Managing the growth of the demand for cooling in urban areas and mitigating the urban heat island effect

Panel: Panel 4: Sustainable Energy Use in Buildings

Authors:
Carlos LOPES, Ecole des Mines de Paris
Jérôme ADNOT, Ecole des Mines de Paris
Mattheos SANTAMOURIS, University of Athens
Nick KLITSIKAS, University of Athens
Servando ALVAREZ, University of Seville
Francisco SANCHEZ, University of Seville

Abstract

Cooling is one of the latest fashionable end-uses and seems to become a standard in southern Europe and in service buildings in the whole European Union. Cooling of buildings is becoming particularly important in urban environments where air temperatures in densely built urban areas are higher than the temperatures of the surrounding areas. This phenomenon is known as "heat island" effect and, added to the rising living standards among other factors, contribute to drive up the traditionally low demand for artificial cooling in Europe.

The paper is based on a study called URBACOOL (standing for URBAn efficient strategies for COOLing) financed by the SAVE Programme of the European Commission. An overview is given of the practices, techniques and materials that can help mitigate the urban heat island effect and other impacts resulting from the increasing demand for cooling. Priority is given to practices that avoid cooling needs such as energy and environmental conscious urban planning, usage of vegetation, and "cool" materials in pavements and buildings. Lastly, advanced efficient active systems that provide the remaining cooling needs are treated.

A set of policy measures is proposed, requiring the adoption of techniques, materials and practices described. These measures involve the various actors ranging from city developers, building designers, equipment manufacturers and energy companies, to policy makers. The authors, although conscious that the adoption of these measures encounters numerous barriers, show that numerous solutions exist, to be adopted by actors ranging from local to European Union level.