Sustainable(ish) Cooling Systems
One of the most significant concerns surrounding the Qatari games since they first announced impacts both players and fans alike: heat. In an unprecedented move, FIFA, which has always held the World Cup in the Summer season, moved the event’s start date to account for the Gulf State’s sweltering heat. Even towards the end of November, however, temperatures in the capital city of Doha are expected to approach 90 degrees fahrenheit.
To compensate with those temperatures, stadiums will rely on a new cooling system designed by Qatari professor Saud Abdulaziz Abdul Ghan (also known as “Dr.Cool”) which works by cooling outside air that flows into the stadium through pipes which is then expelled through grills in the stands and nozzles by the field. The cooling system, which FIFA claims was intentionally designed with sustainability in mind, is powered by solar energy.
Officials reportedly use sensors to monitor temperature fluctuation from a command center and can adjust them when needed.
