The global need for cooling in buildings is rising rapidly. As a result the aims of nearly zero energy and nearly zero carbon buildings (nZEB and nZCB) are challenged. The development of robust low energy and application of low carbon cooling solutions on a large scale will play a key role in the transformation of the building stock towards nZEB and nZCB – both existing and newly built. A bundle of appropriate solutions seem to be available, but suffer from obstacles which keep them from mass application. Other solutions are promising subjects to research.

A proposal for a new Annex on Resilient Cooling, submitted within the IEA-EBC Executive Committee aims to address these challenges. It will analyse low carbon and low energy cooling solutions, identify obstacles and potentials, develop advanced solutions and encourage the use of robust low energy and low carbon cooling solution on a large scale. The Annex draft text has been submitted to the IEA-EBC Executive Committee for approval.

For further information please contact Peter Holzer at: peter.holzer@building-research.at