Insights Brief: Space Cooling

Space Cooling: More Access, More Comfort, Less Energy

Energy Efficiency Insights Brief
© OECD/IEA 2017

Why Discuss Space Cooling?

• Growing Demand: The energy consumption for space cooling is rising due to several factors.
• Key Reasons:
  1. Wealth and Comfort: Increasing desire for and ability to afford thermal comfort.
  2. Population Growth: Rising populations in warmer climates and shifts within countries from colder to warmer regions.
  3. Climate and Temperature: Higher average temperatures and increased frequency of extreme temperatures.
  4. Design and Construction: Changes in building design and use of materials with less thermal mass.
  5. Electronic Devices and Appliances: Increased generation of heat from personal devices and appliances.

Opportunities

• Thermal Comfort: Improving cooling comfort while reducing energy usage.
• Multiple Benefits: Lower energy bills, reduced electricity capacity constraints, and decreased use of climate-warming refrigerants.

What Should Be Done?

• Policy and Technology Choices: Use life-cycle calculations to assess multiple benefits.
• Key Areas:
  1. Cooling Equipment: Minimum energy performance standards.
  2. Building Envelopes: Insulation, shading, windows, and efficient air conditioners.

Key Points

• Rapid Growth: Space cooling demand is increasing rapidly, especially in emerging economies like Mexico, Indonesia, and India.
• Energy Demand: Could increase by up to tenfold in some emerging economies by 2050.
• Global Trends: Increasing demand in hot climates due to population shifts and higher population growth.
• Climate Change: Gradual increases in average temperatures and peak temperatures during extreme weather events.
• Heat Islands: Urban areas experience higher temperatures due to less vegetation, more buildings, and reflective surfaces.
• Materials and Design: Shift from heavy materials to lighter, lower-cost materials with less thermal mass.
• Urbanization: Greater thermal loads in buildings requiring mechanical air conditioning.

Summary

Space cooling demand is rising globally due to economic development, population shifts, and climate change. This trend is expected to continue, leading to significant increases in energy consumption unless effective policies and efficient technologies are implemented. The key drivers include wealth and comfort, population growth, higher temperatures, and changes in building design. Opportunities exist to improve cooling comfort while reducing energy usage, leading to multiple benefits such as lower energy bills and reduced environmental impact. Policy and technology choices should focus on improving cooling equipment and building envelopes to achieve these goals.