Air Conditioning in Outdoor Spaces: Qatar's Strategy Against the Heat

The next big football event will take place in Qatar in three years. If you feel its scheduling is a bit out of place in the calendar, you are not mistaken: the Cup will be played in winter, in an attempt to compensate for the relentless heat waves. Still, with peaks of 46 degrees in the shade, the decision has been to extend the use of air conditioning everywhere. Open-air markets, streets, shopping centers... even if they are only window-shopping, tourists will most likely receive a cool breeze.

Winter vs. Summer: A Debate Without Margins

"Winter vs. Summer" is a classic debate in countries with moderate climates, but in Qatar there is no room for it. Its summers range between lows of 29 and highs of 42, with heat waves that push thermometers much higher. The annual average (combining lows and highs) is 28 degrees, and only between November and February do they get some respite. In short: they melt. Their geographic location, the growth of construction, especially around the capital Doha, and the natural effects of climate change give Qatar a complex thermal profile that presents multiple engineering challenges.

Even so, residents decided to apply a little brute force. What does that mean? They are using outdoor air conditioning systems. Streets, corners, markets, shopping centers (both inside and outside them), and the World Cup stadiums. In some cases they built covered passages with plants and other elements (e.g., awnings), but if records show 45 degrees in the shade or more, more firepower is needed.

The Vicious Cycle of Air Conditioning

The problem is that Qatar is caught in a vicious cycle. A good part of the air conditioning equipment consumes energy from fossil fuels, generating gases that contribute to global warming. That raises the temperature, which increases the desire to install more air conditioning, consuming more energy and emitting more carbon dioxide.

Of course, nothing stops Qatar from accelerating its adoption of solar technology... but let's not forget that the country sits on top of 15,000 million barrels of oil and 14 percent of the world's natural gas reserves. Cooling capacity is expected to double by 2030. Today, 60 percent of the energy generated by Qatar goes to cooling equipment.

Survival in the Heat

For many, it is simply a matter of survival. Too much heat prevents work and endangers everyone's life. A telling example was the women's marathon at the World Athletics Championships held in Doha a couple of weeks ago. Stations with sponges and ice water, emergency teams, a midnight start... nothing was enough. With an average of 33 degrees, 28 of the 68 competitors could not finish, and several were taken away in wheelchairs. There are many doubts about the World Cup, and heat is one of them.

Source: Denver Post