Heatwave adaptations: The Reengineer Monitor #32

European super solar, coastal erosion tech - and more!

Photo by Thien Binh.

Heating and cooling

Noise from a large heat pump installation at a school in Norfolk has caused irritation to people who live nearby. As I noted previously, the school has paid many thousands of pounds to install a sound-dampening barrier. However, BBC News reports that the noise issue remains unresolved. The school is currently using an alternative heating system.

A start-up in Indonesia is capturing and destroying refrigerants with high global warming potential from air conditioning systems.

Buildings and infrastructure

As heatwaves continue to trouble Europe, some commentators have urged people to rethink their approach to hot weather. An article in The Economist suggests Britain should, from now on, consider itself a hot country. No wonder, the London Fire Brigade is currently practising wildfire drills and Transport for London is desperately trying to find ways of cooling down the Tube. Meanwhile, an opinion piece in The Guardian that focuses primarily on Paris says Europe’s cities must improve their resilience to heatwaves: “We will need to use every adaptation available to make our cities tolerable in the face of extreme heat. Whether it is swimmable ponds or little pockets of shaded respite, these things all help.”