The US South, Southwest and West are well known as major Baby Boomer retirement shifts in demographics.

These regions have unusually strong voting influence in national elections, and also are particularly vulnerable to temperature increases and the resultant humidity increases that tax the air conditioning equipment. The problem is that to the extent these major populations are also aged, they are also vulnerable to air conditioning failures and the resultant health consequences.

Culturally, the Europeans do not have the extensive built out air conditioned building base we have in the US.

When we consider recent major European heat waves, the lack of air conditioning was attributed as a factor in the significant loss of life.

It would seem the needs of society during heat waves, the resultant additional load on the electric grid, and the CO2 reduction conversation are competing with each other with no easy solutions.

For more research, here are two basic places to start:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Heat_Wave_of_2003

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_heat_wave_of_2006

Once folks are willing to connect CO2 conversations with Electric Grid needs, and consider human health consequences if we fail to maintain the grid, we also have to take a very close look at what we know about the Atlantic Gulf Stream and potential consequences if the Gulf Stream falters.

I for one am curious which way the coin flips when we consider long term heating or cooling trends.

I think the 2003 / 2006 European experience, coupled with our own Southern and Western population demographics illustrates the very sensitive nature of the problem.