Our planet is profoundly impacted by climate change, particularly its ecosystems, with cities being at high risk. The concentration of population in urban areas and lack of preparation for extreme climate events like heatwaves and floods make cities a critical concern. By 2050, a shocking 1.6 billion people in 970 cities could be exposed to extreme temperatures. Transitioning to green power and implementing decarbonization policies are crucial. However, there is a need to focus on innovative technologies and initiatives designed to counteract scorching summers that break historical temperature records.
Seville, a city in Spain, is experiencing severe heatwaves due to climate change. In response, the city is exploring sustainable strategies, including the installation of cooling bus shelters.
Cooling bus shelters to address climate change
Waiting for a bus in the scorching heat poses thermal risks. Seville, which reached a temperature of 47.4º C in 1946, is familiar with this danger. The city council is tackling this issue by installing innovative “climate shelters” that can reduce temperatures by up to 20ºC. These shelters combine solar energy technologies with water cisterns, making them a new generation of sustainable bus stops to be part of Seville’s cityscape by 2024.
Developed by researchers from the University of Seville, the bus shelters have four main components. An underground cistern stores fresh water, circulated through a closed loop that releases cool air through tiny holes during the hottest times. Solar panels power the water pumps, and sensors optimize performance.
The pumping system activates during hot hours, cooling the shelter to 20º to 24º C regardless of outside temperatures. Water from the cistern recirculates to cool the shelter’s roof at night. The first tanks will be tested in Seville in 2024.
The city plans to expand this approach to improve well-being at school playgrounds.
Towards more sustainable and decarbonized cities
Cities must employ technological and sustainable approaches to combat climate change. Implementing the Smart city concept, optimizing energy consumption, water management, and traffic control with AI and IoT are essential.
Gijón, another Spanish city, focuses on smart energy management to reduce electricity consumption by 68% and CO2 emissions by at least 30%. Other solutions include replacing diesel with biomass boilers and developing energy communities.
To learn about other urban projects committed to energy efficiency and sustainability, check out an article on a Japanese city combining sustainable technologies.
