Sustainable cooling solutions

This report by Sustainable Energy for All (2020) outlines a comprehensive framework for sustainable cooling, designed to meet global climate goals and Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7). It introduces a structured approach to identifying and optimizing cooling solutions based on specific human needs, a five-part solution approach (Protect, Reduce, Shift, Improve, and Leverage), and four primary solution pillars: technology, services, policy, and finance.

• Sustainable cooling is framed as an issue of equity and a necessity for achieving SDG7, focusing on providing affordable solutions for vulnerable populations to ensure access to safe medicines, nutritious food, and protection from heat.
• The framework identifies three fundamental cooling needs: 'Comfort & Safety' for living, working, and health in extreme weather; 'Food & Nutrition' for the agriculture cold chain and rural incomes; and 'Health & Care' for the secure storage and transport of medical products and vaccines.
• The report proposes a five-part solution approach to optimize cooling: 'Protect' (reducing vulnerability), 'Reduce' (lowering demand for active cooling), 'Shift' (changing approaches to use renewables or natural refrigerants), 'Improve' (pure efficiency measures), and 'Leverage' (collective impact through collaboration).
• Technology solutions are divided into nature-based/passive solutions (which use no operational energy or refrigerants) and active solutions (which use energy and refrigerants). The sustainability of active technologies is driven by device efficiency, energy source, and refrigerant type.
• Services solutions are categorized into preparational services (education, skills development, and project services like urban planning) and operational services (direct operation, management, and maintenance).
• Policy solutions utilize a blend of regulatory 'stick' measures (codes and standards), informational 'tambourine' measures (labels and awareness campaigns), and incentive-based 'carrot' measures (financial and non-financial incentives).
• Financial solutions include finance (temporary funds to enable purchase), fiscal instruments (taxes, credits, and the removal of energy subsidies), and funding (grants or rebates).

APA

Sustainable Energy for All (2020). Sustainable cooling solutions. https://www.seforall.org/chilling-prospects-2020/sustainable-cooling-solutions

Chicago

Sustainable Energy for All. Sustainable cooling solutions. 2020. https://www.seforall.org/chilling-prospects-2020/sustainable-cooling-solutions.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Sustainable Energy for All |title=Sustainable cooling solutions |date=2020 |url=https://www.seforall.org/chilling-prospects-2020/sustainable-cooling-solutions |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sustainableenergyforall2020sustainable, author = {{Sustainable Energy for All}}, title = {{Sustainable cooling solutions}}, institution = {Sustainable Energy for All}, year = {2020}, url = {https://www.seforall.org/chilling-prospects-2020/sustainable-cooling-solutions}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }