Resilient Cooling Design Guidelines

These guidelines are a collaborative effort between the Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Associations (REHVA) and the Energy in Buildings and Communities (EBC) programme of the International Energy Agency; Annex 80: Resilient Cooling of Buildings project. It draws on the expertise of scientists from diverse institutions in architecture, engineering, building science, and building physics. The global rise in energy consumption for cooling residential and non-residential buildings, coupled with increased indoor overheating, is a pressing concern. This surge is driven by various factors, including urbanization, climate change, heightened comfort expectations, economic growth, and the accessibility of air conditioning systems. Moreover, disruptive events like extreme heat and heatwaves are becoming more frequent, expected to be commonplace by mid-century. The trajectory toward increased cooling demand is undeniable, necessitating a shift toward sustainable solutions. Resilient cooling aims to mitigate heat stress and maintain safe building conditions during externally induced disruptions, going beyond mere thermal comfort. This Guidebook focuses on designing cooling systems that are resilient to such challenges. While a plethora of suitable technologies and solutions exist, many face practical and financial barriers hindering widespread adoption. Some technologies require further development to achieve readiness. Conventional design emphasizes optimizing performance within predetermined parameters, while resilient design prioritizes adaptability and risk mitigation. Resilient design demands a collaborative, innovative approach with a longer timeframe. Therefore, action is imperative for policymakers, stakeholders, researchers, professionals, and industry players. This Guidebook aims to assist practitioners in implementing highly efficient, low-carbon, resilient cooling solutions, contributing to a sustainable built environment. It identifies key challenges, opportunities, and frameworks associated with building design, exploring innovative concepts to address these issues. It provides an in-depth analysis of various technologies, practices, and simulation approaches, with a focus on disruptive events such as heatwaves and power outages. The main contents of this Guidebook include definitions of resilient cooling for buildings, metrics and key performance indicators, simulation tools and evaluation methods, inputs for performance assessment, frameworks for future weather data development, technological profiles of active and passive cooling solutions and components, and two demonstration case studies - one for new construction and one for existing building renovation. The target audience includes practitioners in building design, architectural firms, building services sectors, consulting engineers, firms, national authorities, building owners, tenants, policymakers, government officers, and building services institutions. It is relevant for small and mid-size facilities, residential and commercial buildings, and both new construction and existing buildings in terms of operation, management, and maintenance.