Capital Dhaka getting hotter as ACs generate heat in atmosphere

Reliance on air conditioners for relief from the heat is creating a “vicious cycle” as the machines contribute to rising temperatures in the capital while also consuming a substantial amount of electricity. There are air conditioner (AC) units with a total capacity of 18.2 lakh tonnes in the capital alone, compared to a total of 28 lakh tonnes countrywide. The capital has seen a three-degree Celsius increase in temperature over the last two decades. Usually, heat released from an AC with a capacity of one tonne can melt one tonne of ice in 24 hours, says a study.
The study further says if AC units with a total capacity of 28 lakh tonnes are run at 22 degrees Celsius, it would result in the consumption of 19,783MW power. As much as 6,623MW could be saved if those ACs were operated at 26 degrees Celsius. Consumption of power is driven up by the increased use of cooling devices, which is contributing to the rise in urban temperatures. People are resorting to ACs amid rising temperatures, leading to further heating up of Dhaka, making it a vicious cycle, as the heat given off by the machines contributes to the city’s rising temperatures. The situation worsened as the capital is fast losing its green coverage, open spaces and water bodies which act as heat absorbents and keep the city within tolerable levels.
Urban planners said that the government must make a policy to determine where the usage of AC is a necessity and where it is a luxury. The design of buildings in our country is done in a way that detaches the dwellers from nature. We must design our buildings in a way that will reduce dependence on ACs. The heat in Dhaka is increasing to the extent that it might prompt a reverse migration to rural areas. To make the city livable, urban forest and urban agriculture must be promoted in addition to protecting the water bodies, open spaces, and greenery.