Why The Growing Demand For AC Threatens Hawaii's Renewable Energy Goals

[TexasTowelie]

Hawaii residents traditionally built with cooling in mind. Windows were placed to maximize cross ventilation and jalousies let in the breeze.

But with global temperatures rising rapidly – the world just had its hottest July ever – and decreasing trade winds, Hawaii’s residents are relying more and more on what used to be a rare luxury: air conditioning.

“As a kid growing up in Ewa Beach, we never needed air conditioning,” said Shannon Tangonan, a spokeswoman for Hawaiian Electric Co. “Now, you really do need it. It’s almost unbearable. We go as long as we can without turning on that AC, but come noon, one o’clock, it gets to the point where it’s like, OK, turn on the AC.”

In 1970, only 14% of Oahu’s residential utility customers, and 2% of those on the neighbor islands, had AC, according to surveys by HECO.

Read more: https://www.civilbeat.org/2019/09/as-ac-replaces-trade-winds-hawaiis-demand-for-electricity-imperils-renewable-goals/