We are happy to inform you that the Energy in Buildings and Communities (EBC) and Cities Technology Collaboration Programme (TCP) have approved EBC Annex 97/Cities TCP Task 5 “Sustainable Cooling in Cities”. The new annex has just been launched and starts the 1-year preparation phase.

Peter Holzer (Institute of Building Research & Innovation, Austria) serves as the operating agent of this annex, which already has interest from countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

The project aims to increase and spread international knowledge about effective heat mitigation and sustainable cooling in cities. Emphasis will be placed on the interaction between heat mitigation in outdoor spaces and cooling of buildings. The aim of the project is to develop and support the application of measures that serve the health, safety and wellbeing of people and that push energy efficiency and open the way to carbon neutrality.

The project has four subtasks:

1. Subtask A – Fundamentals establishes essential criteria for boundary conditions between buildings and outdoor space and key performance indicators (KPIs) on urban cooling, with the goal of providing a solid basis for the Annex activities.
2. Subtask B – Methods aims to develop simulation and experimental methods to provide a strong foundation for the Annex activities related to urban spaces and cooling technologies. The goal is to address the need for adapted methods and heat vulnerability indexes in various urban contexts.
3. Subtask C – Solutions will review, assess, and compare existing approaches to cooling in cities, such as urban morphology modifications, air flow, shading, evaporation, evapotranspiration, cool materials, district cooling, and human behavior, and advance innovative solutions. It will explore their effects on individuals, buildings, and communities under current and future hot weather and heat events. Its scope will include desk studies, case studies, simulations, monitoring, experiments, and proof-of-concept demonstrations. The outcomes should be useful to practitioners.
4. Subtask D – Policy aims to thoroughly analyze the current policies, strategies, and standards concerning urban cooling, with a focus on mitigating heat buildup. This involves evaluating their real-world impact, identifying current gaps and best practices, and offering practical guidance for decision-makers, policymakers, stakeholders, and others. Additionally, the subtask aims to enhance existing networks and form partnerships with city networks to promote the global acceptance of sustainable cooling practices.

Over the next year, the project will:

• Write a State-of-the-Art Report
• Host a preparation workshop in Vienna (April 10-11, 2025)
• Develop the three-year project work plan

Regular online meetings, starting January 2025, will form working groups to drive the project forward. Stay tuned for updates!