High levels of air pollution are forcing people inside to consume
more electricity, subsequently causing even greater environmental
problems by increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
This is according to a new study from
researchers at Cardiff University who have shown that the effects
are seen more in lower-income families and those from ethnic
minority backgrounds.
The team say the results should encourage
decision makers to think about how policy can prevent inequality
from widening in terms of both health risks and financial
hardships.
The study, which has been published in the
journal Nature
Energy, examined the energy consumption of over
4,000 residential buildings and 17,000 commercial buildings in
the city of Phoenix, Arizona between 2013 and
2018.
The Phoenix metropolitan area has the highest
air pollution levels in the United States, with pollution being
generated from both natural sources, such as dust storms, and
human activities such as energy generation and
transport.
The energy consumption data from the buildings
in Phoenix was compared to levels of pollution in the area,
allowing the researchers to tell whether households with distinct
income levels or from various ethnic groups responded to air
pollution differently.
The results showed that higher levels of
pollution were associated with higher electricity consumption in
residential buildings, with increases mainly happening in the
daytime.
Higher pollution levels also resulted in higher
electricity consumption in commercial buildings in the retail and
recreation industries.
“Our results indicate that when air pollution
levels are high, people tend to reduce travelling and shift to
indoor activities, which lead to more electricity consumption in
general, whether it be from heating, cooling and lighting or the
increase use of appliances” said lead author of the study Dr Pan
He from Cardiff University’s School of Earth and Ocean
Sciences.
“Lower-income or Hispanic consumers experienced
a larger increase, possibly because they have low energy
efficiency in their homes and are more exposed to air
pollution.”
The researchers also examined the impact of
high levels of air pollution on energy supplies, specifically
solar panels.
It is believed that solar panels can lose their
efficiency as air pollution not only absorbs and scatters the
sunlight in the air, but also gets deposited on the surface of
the panels which hampers their power
generation.
Indeed, the results showed that air pollution
reduced the power generated by solar panels in both the
residential and commercial buildings, with the latter less
affected potentially because the panels are better maintained and
cleaned.
“Our findings show the importance of
considering the interactions and feedbacks of consumer behavior
and solar energy systems to air pollution issues,” Dr He
continued.
“A cost-benefit analysis when accounting for
the damages presented in this paper could produce larger welfare
gains from pollution control policies. Meanwhile, it is critical
to reduce the socio-economic vulnerability in adapting to air
pollution, which can be achieved by improving the energy
efficiency in the homes of specific income and ethnic
groups.”
ENDS
