Heatwaves all over the world are becoming longer and more intense and the need for cooling is rising fast, putting strain not just on power bills but on electricity grids and the planet. With 2024 the hottest year on record and 2025 not far behind, air conditioning is no longer a luxury for many – it’s a lifeline.Al Jazeera breaks down how air conditioners work, traces the history of cooling, and offers practical tips on protecting your AC and reducing energy costs.
How does air conditioning work?
Air conditioners cool indoor spaces by moving heat from inside your home to the outside using a chemical fluid called a refrigerant. The process starts when the indoor unit draws in warm air from the room and passes it over evaporator coils filled with cold, low-pressure liquid refrigerant. As the air moves across the coils, the refrigerant absorbs the heat and evaporates into a gas, cooling the air in the process. A fan then blows the cooled air back into the room.
The now-warm refrigerant travels to the outdoor unit, where a compressor increases its pressure and temperature. In the condenser coils, the refrigerant releases heat to the outside air, turning back into a liquid. The cycle then repeats.
(Al Jazeera)
How long have air conditioners …
