We can’t air-condition our way out of a hotter future, says UNSW expert

 A new global review argues passive cooling technology must become central to climate adaptation.

As temperatures rise around the world, air conditioning is saving lives. But a growing reliance on it is also placing unprecedented pressure on electricity grids, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and making cities even hotter.

A global review led by UNSW Sydney's Professor Mat Santamouris AM – an expert in innovative heat mitigation technologies and strategies for cities, opens in a new window – argues that keeping buildings cool without relying solely on air conditioning will be critical for adapting to climate change.

Cities cannot outrun hotter climates with air-con alone

Air-conditioning units flying off shelves worries Australian urban heat expert Mat Santamouris.

With 10 systems purchased every second worldwide, the University of NSW professor fears the cooling technology has become the default response to rising global temperatures.

"We cannot air-condition our way out of climate change," he said.

"If every building depends entirely on mechanical cooling, we create enormous pressure on electricity systems while adding even more heat to our cities."

Passive cooling for the built environment

Passive cooling technologies reduce heat and solar gains in buildings and public spaces while dissipating excess heat. This approach could reduce impacts of mechanical air conditioning, which has environmental impacts and consumes electricity, contributing to peak demand and grid stress. In this Review, we discuss advances in passive cooling technologies, focusing on smart solar control, ventilation, and radiative, evaporative and hybrid dissipation systems.

Keeping Cool: From Building Physics to Climate Resilience

RESEARCH PATHWAY: personal reflections on a career in research

Mat Santamouris (University of New South Wales) reflects on a research journey explaining how an early fascination with solar energy and building physics evolved into research on urban overheating, cool materials, and city-scale heat mitigation. The social imperative for research to address now is: Who is most exposed to extreme heat, and what can science do to protect them?

My research career evolved in close alignment with changing societal agendas to address energy scarcity, climate change, and thermal discomfort in buildings and cities. What began as an inquiry rooted in the physics of buildings and passive cooling strategies progressively expanded in scale, first to encompass urban microclimates and urban overheating, and later to the development of innovative materials and large-scale heat mitigation strategies aimed at protecting cities from extreme heat.

Throughout this trajectory, a consistent objective has been to translate scientific understanding into solutions that enhance thermal comfort, reduce energy demand, and promote environmental and social equity. At the same time, this process has not been without constraints: significant barriers frequently emerged in translating research into practice, including limited engagement frameworks with policymakers, institutional inertia, regulatory constraints, and the challenge of communicating complex scientific concepts to non-specialist audiences.

How cities are fighting back against the 'heat island effect'

As temperatures rise, researchers are rethinking how cities measure and respond to urban heat. But experts say successful solutions require finding solutions tailored to local conditions rather than relying on one-size-fits-all fixes.

Record-breaking heat and humidity are already upon us at the start of what is predicted to be a scorcher of a summer. 

Our cities, with their dark, asphalt surfaces, exhaust-emitting vehicles, and heat-trapping buildings, feel these temperatures the most. Many residents experience at least 8 degrees of additional heat just because of their neighborhood layout, according to Climate Central, which assessed heat patterns in 65 metropolitan areas.  

Συνέντευξη στο Ριζες Abroad - Ertflix

Watch here : https://www.ertflix.gr/#/details/ERT_PS058431_E0

Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Institute of British Architects