How to Cool Down Sustainably: The CoolLIFE Project

Demand for space cooling technologies such as air conditioners is rising, a trend that is expected to continue as Europe faces increasingly hot temperatures. However, air-conditioning has harmful effects as it displaces heat outside and emits refrigerants with warming effects up to 10,000 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. All of this increases temperatures outside, compounding dangers like the urban heat island effect. As Europe reaches record temperatures during summers and heats up faster than the rest of the world, it is crucial to implement sustainable cooling systems and avoid adding to the heat. 

The CoolLIFE project aims to shift towards sustainable cooling methods through its 3-year tenure and €2.1 million budget. The main aims of the project are to reduce space cooling needs, improve energy efficiency, increase renewable energy usage and promote new cooling technologies. 

The project is divided into 2 branches: the CoolLIFE tool and the CoolLIFE knowledge hub. The CoolLIFE tool provides mapped data on space cooling demand in Europe, with additional information on comfort levels, lifestyle and user behaviour in different countries, regions and cities. The tool has been tested in 3 European municipalities and has launched a campaign providing advice on how to stay cool during the summer, how to handle heatwaves, and how indoor plants can help homes stay cool. 

The CoolLIFE knowledge hub is the other main service provided by the project. The hub is a website where visitors can find information on data, resources, and financing schemes related to space cooling.

When the CoolLIFE project was tested in some EU countries, the results showed that projections for rising energy costs and increased space cooling demand by 2050 will require policy reforms and solutions. 

However, the biggest dilemma remains how to navigate the construction of new buildings and the renovation of existing ones while maintaining the balance of staying cool and comfortable without compounding the issue of climate change. For new buildings, purposeful designs can limit the need for cooling technologies and incorporate cooling systems other than air conditioning. A way to address this problem for existing buildings could be to incorporate cooling measures into planned renovations. 

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Source: European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA)