Engineering a Cooler Tomorrow: Michael Shi's Crusade Against Climate Change through Sustainable Cooling

Michael Shi is a student from Beijing who is driven by his passion for engineering and the environment. Growing up, I watched environmental documentaries, and through this, my love for nature was ignited. I was made aware of the various climate problems that we face today. Witnessing the grey toxic gasses being released into the atmosphere, the floods and droughts, and the devastating effects of burning fossil fuel and global warming, I decided to do what I could to contribute to mitigating the problem. I saw a problem in the cooling industry and decided to start from there.

The problem is more urgent than ever. Bolstered by greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide and methane, the world is now about 1.2°C warmer than it was in the 19th Century – and the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has risen by 50%. (BBC - https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-24021772). Despite seeming inconsequential, a rise in temperature of 1.2 degrees is actually devastating. It has caused global catastrophes such as extreme heat, droughts, floods and much more. In fact, in 2019, African cities such as Mozambique and Zimbabwe experienced an unprecedented heat wave, causing 780,000 hectares of farmland to yield nothing and causing over 180,000 people to be homeless. Other detrimental effects of global warming include damage to ecosystems, which can affect the entire food chain and will soon affect all of us if we don’t take action. Furthermore, melting ice caps caused the global average sea level to rise by 21–24 centimeters since 1880, meaning.

(https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-sea-level)

Conventional cooling, such as air conditioning, is a major driver of climate change, responsible for over seven per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. (from UN News)

Air conditioners use about 6% of all the electricity produced in the United States. As a result, roughly 117 million metric tons of carbon dioxide are released into the air each year.

From IEA: By 2050, 2/3 of the world’s families could have an air conditioner with developing countries like China and India taking up half the amount

My care for the environment is what led me to start my organization, 1.5 Degrees. Throughout the many years I grew up, I tried to come up with ways in which I could help with this climate crisis and eventually noticed problems with air conditioners.

Initially, many people or public places like supermarkets, hotels and office buildings are excessively using them, setting the temperature so low that the freezing temperature makes one want to put on clothes. There is no point in doing this and it is causing unnecessary waste. In addition, air conditioners are extremely high in energy consumption. Considering how most of our energy generated comes from burning fossil fuel, which releases greenhouse gases, any energy we put into cooling contributes directly to climate change.

Indeed, waste reduction is crucial to a sustainable future. With 1.5 Degrees, I seek to address the issue with air conditioners, doing what a student can. We plan to achieve these goals in three main ways: advocacy, education and implementing sustainable cooling strategies.

To advocate, we first need to research current policies, and then we can advocate for policy enhancements. To start with, we can advocate for sustainable cooling in schools. We can then advocate on larger scales, by sending emails to officials or visiting officials in person and trying to make them aware of this issue, persuading them into issuing policy enhancements.

To educate, we can make and give out flyers on this topic to raise awareness. We can also host educational workshops or webinars both in and out of school. Lastly, we are already developing an interactive website featuring educational content and tips on effective usage of air conditioners.

To improve cooling technology, we will first research to identify areas of improvement in air conditioning. With that knowledge, we can then explore technologies for sustainable cooling. We will also partner with businesses to implement these sustainable cooling practices and put them into use.

Framework: REFRESH

R- Renewable- Harness Natural Power/Clean Energy Sources

E- Encourage- Promote Efficiency / Foster energy savings

F- Foundation- Build sustainability / Lay green groundwork

R- Responsible- Use wisely/conscious consumption

E- Educate- Spread awareness / Teach and Inspire

S- Sustainability- Green technologies / Eco-friendly practices

H- Heat- Combat urban heat

Our journey begins with research and collaboration, setting the stage for awareness campaigns and educational workshops. As we progress, we'll develop eco-friendly cooling solutions, advocate for policy changes, and expand our educational outreach. Ultimately, our goal is to implement sustainable cooling prototypes, optimize eco-friendly technologies in schools and communities, and scale our impact through continuous education and policy evaluation.

President Obama once said, "No challenge poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change." This statement has never been truer. The climate crisis demands immediate action, and through initiatives like 1.5 Degrees, we hope to make a significant contribution to a sustainable future.