Taking place on 14 November in Birmingham, the event will look at experiences of designing for greater variance in temperature and balancing environmental objectives with higher load demands. It will also review some of the approaches and solutions already adopted by countries that have developed a solid cooling strategy to tackle rising temperatures.

As well as a series of talks showcasing innovations there will be a panel discussion to debate practical steps that the RACHP sector should adopt. This discussion will emphasise the significance of maintaining net-zero objectives when planning for more challenging design conditions. The programme will be as follows:

Keynote presentations

• Adapting industry to withstand rising temperatures and future heatwaves. Laura Kent, IMechE
• The economic impact of extreme heat and the importance of the cold economy.  Leyla Sayin, Centre for Sustainable Cooling, University of Birmingham

Lessons from hot places - What can the UK learn?  

• The development of Jordan's national cooling strategy. Sawan Baaresh, Royal Scientific Society 
• The impacts of designing refrigeration equipment for warmer climates. Yosr Allouche, International Institute of Refrigeration

What practical measures can businesses take to mitigate extreme heat?

In this panel discussion, experts will share practical measures the RACHP sector can implement and the importance of maintaining net-zero objectives in planning for extreme heat events.

Chaired by Andrew Bowden, managing director of J&E Hall. 

• How can energy demand management be utilised to achieve net zero?
• How should we improve design? Connor Eaton-Smith, K2 Engineering Cooling
• What is the role of maintenance and servicing? John Bonner, City Facilities Management 
• How can academia support businesses in tackling extreme heat challenges? Catarina Marques, London South Bank University

Adapting to extreme heat - paving the way forward 

• New blend refrigerants for higher ambient temperatures. Koura Global
• How refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump equipment design will need to adapt to cope with climate change. Kashif Nawaz, Oak Ridge National Laboratory 
• The Heat Action Platform - reducing the human and economic impacts of extreme heat. Owen Gow, Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center.

As part of the event, there will be an opportunity for delegates to participate in a post-conference site tour of the Mondelez-Cadbury UK factory in Bourneville. This tour will provide attendees with a chance to explore the refrigeration plant and gain insights into the manufacturing process.

Places for the Business Briefing are available at £85 + VAT with discounts for group bookings.

To book: https://ior.org.uk/extreme-heat-2023