Trying to be cool can certainly make you hot! This is one valuable advice offered in the draft “London climate change adaptation strategy???? recently released by Mr Boris Johnson, Mayor of London. In this report, concerns were raised on the considerable environmental impact of waste heat generated by air conditioning systems installed all over the capital city.

The term “urban heat island???? refers to an urban area where temperatures are raised by the heat generated from traffic, air conditioning systems and other energy uses. The heat radiating from buildings and roads is also a contributing factor. Most importantly, particularly in high-density areas, the contribution to the “urban heat island???? by human activity (known as “anthropogenic????) is thought to be substantial.

“In Westminster and the City of London modelling suggests that the anthropogenic contribution, calculated using the total energy demand for buildings and traffic, may be a significant contribution to urban heating,???? the report said. “If the use of air conditioning were to become widespread, the area affected by a significant anthropogenic contribution would increase.????

The effect of an “urban heat island???? can lead to an increase in morality rates as people find it hard to cope with rising temperatures. “It can also increase the demand for cooling and upset sleep patterns, while also putting pressure on water supplies and damaging temperature sensitive infrastructure,???? the report warned. People’s increasing reliance on electric cooling can further lead to frequent blackouts.

The report concluded that Londoners should look carefully at measures to limit the use of air conditioning. More energy efficiency approaches also need be introduced and implemented to prepare for other dangerous aspects of climate change.