Future-proof cooling with water-based systems?
European countries are facing an increased risk of overheating in homes, residential buildings and commercial buildings. The contributing factors are: global warming due to climate change, more thermal insulation, higher air tightness to generate energy, urbanization and internal heat due to appliances, installations and people.
The resulting heat stress could have a negative impact on the well-being and work performance of individuals.
Alternatively, a cool indoor climate ensures improves the living and working experience, comfort and general well-being of the building's users and lower absenteeism due to illness. Cooling even contributes to a lower mortality rate, which is especially important with an aging population. The reduced risk of vermin and mold, contributes to overall health as well.
As a result of these issues there is latent growing demand for cooling. However, this demand for cooling and the associated energy consumption is being overlooked. It is therefore important to identify the possibilities for sustainably meeting the cooling demand.
Among various measures that are possible to cool a building, water-based cooling is the most sustainable and efficient alternatives to cooling systems with F-gases.
Why?
Because water is natural and a water-based system uses much less energy, stores a lot of energy per unit volume, and is safe and manageable. Such a system is also easier to install and if degassed properly, can have a much longer lifespan.