Econsult, an Egyptian architecture firm that specialises in green, energy-efficient and affordable buildings,
designed the structures for 120 workers in the Saharan oasis village, from farmers and engineers to
administrative staff.
“The buildings are now cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter” by about 5-7C, Azzazy says – a
huge advantage as climate change brings ever more extreme weather.
Faced with rising temperatures, Egyptian architects are working to come up with green buildings that can
keep people safe and cooler, and cut down on the emissions that drive global warming.
Econsult, one of the firms – now a finalist for an award for innovative cooling without air conditioning – has
turned out more comfortable government buildings, banks and coffee shops across Egypt, often using local
materials.
In a country where temperatures can hit nearly 50C in the summer, outdoor workers struggle – and even
those inside often depend on fans or air conditioning.
Smarter design can cut the need for electrical-powered cooling and make people more comfortable and able
to continue with their jobs even in the heat, architects say.
“We use heat-absorbing materials and other cooling techniques like heat-reflecting roofs in order to keep
buildings cooler,” Sarah El Battouty, the founder of Econsult, tells the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Creating structures that are oriented to best shed heat and that incorporate local materials is key, El
Battouty says.
Insulating air layers, in particular, can help keep heat out, she says.
“We innovate as much as possible through layering between the outside and into the inside which has
helped us cool down air coming into interiors by almost 5 degrees. We also use colour and reflectivity,” she
adds.
El Battouty says that rising temperatures hit the poor – who struggle to afford air conditioning – and those
working outside hardest.
“That is why we want to provide sustainable cooling,” El Battouty says.
The cost of cooling
One problem facing Egypt’s fast-growing urban areas is that as temperatures rise, more people turn on air
conditioners, which in turn churn out waste heat, further raising temperatures outside.
The devices also are heavy energy users, and if that energy comes from fossil fuels their use can drive
further climate change.
According to a 2018 International Energy Agency report, using air conditioners and electric fans to stay
cool “accounts for nearly 20 per cent of the total electricity used in buildings around the world”.
Demand for cooling is “putting enormous strain on electricity systems in many countries, as well as driving
up emissions,” the report added.
Econsult architects said one of their goals is to make sure the heat-beating designs they come up with work
for the poor as well as the rich.
“We care about making our green buildings affordable, so we design buildings in a way that makes them
have the same cost as traditional buildings,” says Ahmed Al Shareif, a business development manager with
Econsult, which started in 2013.
Econsult uses recycled materials as much as possible, and keeps in mind issues from potential pollution to