Research project

RetroCooling – Thermal Stress in Everyday Rehabilitation

Climate change increases the risk of overheating in summer in long-term care and healthcare facilities. As part of the RetroCooling project, the indoor climate and the heat stress experienced by residents and staff are being studied through monitoring and interviews. The findings will form the basis for needs-based and energy-efficient cooling solutions for existing buildings.

Objectives

RetroCooling aims to develop a sustainable cooling concept for existing healthcare and nursing facilities. Using the Wald Rehabilitation Clinic as a case study, the project combines indoor climate measurements with user surveys to analyze heat stress and design an energy-efficient, PV-supported cooling system for existing buildings.

Description

The project consists of the following main work packages:

Indoor climate assessment:
During the summer heat wave, the indoor climate is monitored using IoT sensors and analyzed in conjunction with building data and occupancy times to assess the risk of overheating.
Interprofessional interviews:
Semi-structured interviews with nursing staff, doctors, therapists, and technical support staff assess heat stress, health risks, and requirements for future cooling solutions.
Design, development, and presentation of a technical solution:
Development of a PV-supported cooling system concept for the Wald Rehabilitation Clinic. Taking into account measurement data, building structure, and user requirements, a suitable combination of cooling generation, distribution, and potential storage is defined.

Contact: Lukas Omlin

Duration: 01.03.2026 - 31.12.2026

Partner:

Rehaklinik Valens