Page 15 - Shelter - April 2023
P. 15
THEME PAPER
refrigerants in cooling and This is detailed in the next zero goals, and occupants’
refrigeration systems is section. comfort and needs. In this
another key action to cut way, interactive efficient
non-CO 2 greenhouse gas NET ZERO CONNECTED buildings can build demand
emissions. Control systems COMMUNITIES (NZ2CS) flexibility and resilient
can help buildings to reduce ARE THE FUTURE power infrastructure can be
cooling, lighting, and plug Buildings have a significant incorporated.
loads, and also engage potential to transition
occupants to implement from being isolated energy NZ2Cs can provide
energy savings behaviours. consumers to energy efficient foundational opportunities
and low-carbon active energy for clean energy policy and
Hence, the key themes are technology innovation. This
cooling decarbonization prosumers, unlocking the is through building-to-grid
pathways that must include potential for dynamic energy community scale integration
important considerations efficiency, load flexibility, with cost-effective distributed
such as foundational shelter and renewables integration energy resources to harness
and thermal comfort through within the energy system. demand flexibility while
could
transition
This
passive and active cooling, providing equitable, reliable
as well as adequate space, deliver significant cost and
savings
ventilation, and daylighting. environmental technologies, energy access. NZ2Cs can
help decarbonise, through
given
new
Democratisation of cooling
can be attained through Figure 6: Alternative building cooling concepts
considerations such as
affordable housing that
integrates protecting the poor
and vulnerable communities
from heat stress through
nature-based solutions and
passively cooled building
design, fast adoption of
EcoNiwas Samhita (ENS)
and ECBC, and widespread
scaling of non-refrigerant business models, enabling energy efficiency, clean
technologies such as super- policies, human capacity, and renewables, energy storage
efficient fans and air coolers. investments. This transition and EV charging for the
Further, digitalization can be fuelled by net zero built transformation towards
solutions such as sensors, environments with connected climate action and energy
metres and controls can help communities. NZ2Cs security, digitalise, through
optimise cooling (Figure 6). comprise groups of grid- connecting equipment,
While cooling is a critical interactive efficient buildings buildings, EVs, and energy
component of the building with diverse, flexible end use systems with people
sector, the connection of equipment, and distributed and organisations, and
buildings to the energy grid is energy resources that democratise, through
the next frontier for research, collectively work to maximise empowering human capacity,
development and deployment building, community, and inclusive innovation, and
for attaining a net zero future. grid efficiency to meet net- equitable community
April, 2023, Volume 24. No.1 - SHELTER 13
