Prof. Mat Santamouris
University of Athens, Greece
Prof. Mat Santamouris, University of Athens, Greece
The temperature of cities continues to increase because of the heat island phenomenon and the undeniable climatic change. The observed high ambient temperatures intensify the energy problem of cities, deteriorates comfort conditions, put in danger the vulnerable population and amplify the pollution problems. Higher urban temperatures increase the energy consumption for cooling for cooling and raise the peak electricity demand, intensifies the pollution patterns in cities and increase the ozone concentration, deteriorate the outdoor thermal comfort conditions, increase the ecological footprint of the cities, intensifies the health problems and increases the indoor heat stress on low income population.
To counterbalance the phenomenon, important mitigation technologies have been developed and proposed. Mitigation techniques aim to balance the thermal budget of cities by increasing thermal losses and decreasing the corresponding gains. Among the more important of the proposed techniques are those targeting to increase the albedo of the urban environment, to expand the green spaces in cities and to use the natural heat sinks in order to dissipate the excess heat. Recent real scale applications involving the use of the above mitigation techniques have resulted into very important climatic benefits and a serious reduction of the heat island strength.
The objective of the present lecture is to review, in a critical way, the available scientific information on the mitigation and adaptation potential of the major available technological developments. In parallel to present the actual information on the impact of urban overheating on energy, health and quality of life. New data on the specific impact on the energy balance of buildings will be given. The impact of the urban overheating on low income population is also analysed. Also, to combine and analyze the existing theoretical and experimental data, compare and homogenize the results and if possible, to provide general conclusions and suggestions.
Biography
Mat Santamouris is Professor of Energy Physics at the University of Athens and visiting professor at the Cyprus Institute, Metropolitan University of London, Tokyo Polytechnic University, Bolzano University, Brunnel University and National University of Singapore.
Director of the Laboratory of Building Energy Research, at the University of Athens.
Editor in Chief of the Energy and Buildings, Past Editor in Chief of the Journal of Advances Building Energy Research, Associate Editor of the Solar Energy Journal and actual or past Member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Solar Energy, Journal of Buildings and Environment, Journal of Sustainable Energy, Journal of Low Carbon Technologies, Journal of Open Construction and Building Technology, Sustainable Cities and Society and of the Journal of Ventilation
Editor of the Series of Book on Buildings, Energy and Solar Technologies published by Earthscan Science Publishers in London.
Editor and author of 12 international books on topics related to heat island, solar energy and energy conservation in buildings published by Earthscan in London.
Guest editor of twelve special issues of various scientific journals.
Coordinator of many international research programs and author of almost 210 scientific papers published in peer review international scientific journals.
Reviewer of research projects in 14 countries including USA, UK, France, Germany, Canada, Sweden, etc.