Building Coolings: How to Modify Your Room To Make It Cool

 The Challenge of Cooling in a Warming World

Take a look at these building facades in Singapore. And these in New Delhi, New York, and Hong Kong. Notice anything? In these parts of the world, life without air conditioning can be uncomfortable – or downright dangerous.

"More than a dozen people have died in India in the past two months due to a severe heatwave."

"A fierce heatwave."

"Heatwaves."

"Heatwave."

But that brings us to our dilemma. The technology needs lots of energy. In fact, cooling buildings accounts for 10% of our global electricity consumption. And that's bad news for global warming.

"It's a vicious loop. We cool the indoors, but we warm the outdoors, therefore generating the need for more cooling."

But there are solutions – some traditional, some modern – that don't eat up massive amounts of energy. So... can they help us break out of this vicious circle?

The Origins: Willis Carrier and Modern Air Conditioning

The story behind this conundrum begins in New York City in 1902. That's where engineer Willis Carrier laid the foundations for modern air conditioning.

He designed an engine to control humidity in a printing plant because it was warping the paper. Simply speaking: the system blew air over coils filled with cool water. Not only did humidity condense on these coils but also made the air comfortably cool inside the plant.

Over time, more developed versions of this primitive system made their way into businesses and American homes.

"Nowadays," says Charles Gallavardin who leads bioclimactic architecture projects around Vietnam and Mauritania "Americans are still some of most prolific AC users globally." About 90% households own an AC unit compared to less than 10% in some of the hottest parts of the world.

But other countries want to catch up. Just look how much more energy some emerging economies are projected to use in the coming decades to cool their homes and buildings. This is 2016 and this is 2050.

"If you see India's air conditioning market, it is growing in double digits," says Ankit Kalanki who works to open up the global market for high-efficiency air conditioners. "India's population is growing. India is getting even hotter."

The Soaring Demand for Cooling

Because of trends like these, global energy demand for space cooling is projected to triple by 2050. The question now becomes: How do we meet this soaring demand without exacerbating the heat?

In many parts of the world, ACs are powered by fossil fuels that emit greenhouse gases, making the atmosphere hotter. On top of that, air conditioners cool indoor spaces by pushing out heat, which makes immediate surroundings hotter too – leaving those who can't afford ACs most vulnerable.

"So we've got a threefold effect as a result of air conditioning on the atmosphere," explains Prasad Vaidya, an expert in passive solar design. "Being able to reduce it down either efficient cooling or doing cooling without air conditioning is really a smart solution."

Step One: Reduce Heat at City-wide Scale

The first step towards sustainable cooling involves reducing heat at a city-wide scale because everyone should have access to cooler environments.

Urban areas often experience what's known as urban heat island effect when they get warmer than surrounding regions due to concrete absorbing and retaining heat along with waste heat from human activities like transportation and... well...air conditioning itself!

To combat this effect, cities can create more green spaces with shady trees and plants that absorb less heat while also minimizing waste heat expelled by cars. Barcelona has introduced superblocks prioritizing pedestrians and cyclists while Berlin has successfully reduced average temperatures by 2°C through planting green corridors.

Step Two: Design Buildings for Natural Cooling

The second step involves designing buildings that rely less on air conditioning, drawing inspiration from traditional architecture and local climates.

"Before technology, all people around the world found solutions to survive properly," says Gallavardin. Bioclimatic architects study vernacular architecture carefully to incorporate design elements that take advantage of natural cooling mechanisms.

For example, wind towers used in countries like Iran and other Middle Eastern nations have been implemented in modern buildings like Qatar University. Wind catchers trap fresh air while pushing out hot air, keeping interiors cool naturally.

Additionally, painting roofs with lime-based white-wash – a method popular in India – can reduce indoor temperatures by 2°C to 5°C. Proper orientation of buildings and careful consideration of wind direction also help encourage cross ventilation and keep spaces cooler.

Step Three: More Efficient Air Conditioning

While these steps minimize the need for air conditioning, there are times when it is still necessary. However, there is no technological reason why ACs should consume as much energy as they currently do.

"The AC industry is rooted in roughly hundred-year-old technology," explains Sneha Sachar who works towards climate-friendly cooling options. "There hasn't been a lot of motivation or market factors that have spurred innovation."

In many humid regions like India or Singapore where about one-third of energy is used for managing humidity alone, people tend to blast their ACs at lower temperatures just to control moisture levels effectively. This wastes energy unnecessarily.

However, recent innovations showcased during the Global Cooling Prize competition offer hope for more efficient models. By improving controls and sensing capabilities related not only temperature but also humidity levels inside rooms, new models showed five times lower climate impact compared to commercial units available today.

These innovations aim to optimize performance while reducing overall energy consumption significantly over time. But challenges remain including updating testing standards and incentivizing consumers to choose more efficient models despite higher upfront costs.

Large-scale Cooling Solutions: District Cooling

What if we thought about efficient, mechanical cooling on a much larger scale? Some cities have already implemented district cooling systems that can save up to 50% on energy and emissions.

Singapore boasts the largest underground air conditioner in the world, which cools entire districts by piping chilled water from a central plant. Cities like Toronto, Paris, and Hong Kong are also adopting this approach for multiple buildings within an area.

While district cooling requires significant infrastructure investment and is better suited for new constructions, it offers an efficient solution that can be sustainable in the long run. However, widespread adoption will require substantial capital investments, knowledge sharing, and awareness campaigns.

Urgent Investment Needed

In countries like India, China, and Indonesia where AC usage is expected to skyrocket in the coming years due to population growth and urbanization trends – alternatives must be explored urgently.

"We don't have enough energy in the world," warns Gallavardin. "We need a better way to cool our built environment."

The good news is that there are viable solutions available today – reducing heat at city-wide scale through green spaces; designing buildings with natural cooling mechanisms; improving efficiency of air conditioners; and implementing large-scale district cooling systems. These steps can help break out of the vicious cycle of increasing demand for cooling while exacerbating global warming.

So how do you currently cool your home? And would any of these solutions make a difference in your life?

Let us know in the comments below!

-Sammy.