Urban climate Human Thermal Comfort-Air Conditioning Climate Change An urban area is characterized by higher population density and

nd vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets. As the following graph illustrates a big portion of Earths population is living in urban areas. Thus, the anthropogenic activities in cities will strongly affect the local climate and consequently the global atmospheric conditions.

Figure 1. Urban Population projection in 2008

Urban areas form a specific type of climate called urban climate. The most well-known and analyzed phenomenon of urban climate is the Urban heat island. In brief, this phenomenon describes the difference of air temperature in city center in contrast with the surrounding rural areas. Urban heat island (especially in temperate climates) tends to increase the possibility of heat waves occurrence and increase the human heat stress. Thus there is an increasing demand for energy consumption for air conditioning (cooling indoor spaces). When an air conditioning (A/C) unit is in use consumes energy to cool the indoor space when at the same time this A/C unit releases heat in outdoor environment. Due to energy loses the total heating is more than the coolness from the air conditioning device. So, no matter if our house getting cooler the urban environment is getting warmer. Finally we have an amplifying heating feedback (procedure). This function drives to a higher energy consumption having the CO2 emission as a consequence, enforcing the greenhouse effect. On the other hand climate change will lead to more hot days and more heat waves. As a result, people will need to use more air conditioning to stay cool. As people use more air conditioning, electricity shortages and blackouts could increase. Because most electricity is currently produced by burning fossil fuels, using more electricity to run air conditioners will also add more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.
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http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2007/06/27/URBAN_WORLD_2806.pdf

Figure 2 Modeled global residential energy demand for heating and for air conditioning in a reference 2 scenario.

In order to mitigate the increasing demand of energy and the related CO2 emissions they increase global (and urban) warming we have to adopt bioclimatic design for the residences and renewable energy sources. In addition citizens should plant trees near offices and homes to provide shade and keep them cool naturally.

Figure 3. Residential energy modeling (Adapted from )

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2008.09.051 Kavgic M, Mavrogianni A, Mumovic D, Summerfield A, Stevanovic Z, DjurovicPetrovic M. A review of bottom-up building stock models for energy consumption in the residential sector. Build Environ 2010 JUL;45(7):1683-1697.
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They can also use fans instead of air conditioners when it's not too hot. When air conditioning is needed, people can save energy by setting the thermostat a few degrees warmer. When buying a new air conditioner, people can choose energyefficient models. As far as we burn fossil fuels to produce energy for cooling our cities, we feed an everlasting circle of global warming.