Identify Sustainable and Accessible Cooling Strategies to Keep Individuals Cool During Extreme Heat Events
Sushant Suresh Bhuvad
Technical University of Denmark
Abstract
Extreme heat events are intensifying globally, posing substantial risks to human health. While air conditioning remains effective, its high energy demand and limited accessibility necessitate sustainable alternatives. We evaluate low-energy cooling strategies, focusing on electric fans and water-based interventions. Controlled human experiments under simulated heatwave conditions (41 °C, 35% RH) show that both table and ceiling fans reduce thermophysiological strain, with table fans providing greater cooling benefits. Increasing airflow further enhances heat dissipation and comfort under these conditions. To assess prolonged exposure, a modified thermoregulation model was applied across varying environmental conditions and activity levels. Results indicate that fan use is beneficial under moderate heat stress, particularly at low activity levels, where enhanced evaporative cooling offsets sensible heat gain. However, under extreme conditions (>46 °C and high humidity), fan use may accelerate heat gain and accelerate hyperthermia onset. Water-based strategies such as immersion and dousing were also evaluated, with leg immersion emerging as the most effective approach. Overall, the findings provide thresholds for safe fan use and underscore the potential of simple water-based interventions as robust alternatives during extreme heat events, and support the need for clear guidelines on sustainable and accessible cooling during extreme heat events.
Bio
Dr. Sushant is a postdoctoral fellow at the International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy (ICIEE), DTU Sustain, Technical University of Denmark. He obtained his PhD in December 2025 from the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His research focuses on human thermoregulation, heat stress, and thermal comfort in the built environment, with additional expertise in Building-Integrated Photovoltaics and solar energy systems.