Cologne attacks the heat: water mist brings fresh cooling!

Cologne attacks the heat: water mist brings fresh cooling!

The summer of 2025 will not only bring sunshine in Cologne, but also a challenge: the number of hot days and tropical nights is increasing. The so-called heat island effect occurs, particularly in inner cities, where certain areas heat up to 10 degrees Celsius more than their rural surroundings. This development affects not only the environment, but also the well-being of citizens. To counteract this, the city of Cologne and RheinEnergie have launched the “Cooling Cologne” project, which provides cooling in an innovative way.

As part of this project, special hoses were installed that spray fine water mist. This technology has already proven itself three years ago at Heinrich-Böll-Platz and has now been tested as part of a test run on July 18, 2022. The results were impressive: According to the surveys, temperatures could be reduced by up to 14 degrees Celsius, which was very well received by passers-by. Around 90 percent would like this measure to be repeated.

Water mist as a cooling agent

The new mist showers are intended to be activated specifically on days with heat warnings from the German Weather Service. This measure is not only a stylish but also an effective means of reducing heat. The “Heat Action Plan of the City of Cologne” aims to significantly improve the quality of life in urban areas and protect people who are particularly at risk. The city relies on responsible use of drinking water resources: fog generation requires around 16 cubic meters of water per hour - it should be taken into account that on hot days water consumption throughout Cologne can rise to over 300,000 cubic meters.

However, implementing such systems is only part of the solution. What Cologne also urgently needs are long-term measures to reduce the urban heat island effect. The UHI effect, amplified by the presence of asphalt, concrete and glass, causes urban areas to be three times more likely to experience tropical nights, especially during summer nights. Climate change is likely to exacerbate this trend.

Long-term strategies

The city of Cologne is therefore also planning further initiatives to create cool rooms in heavily polluted areas. In addition to the use of water mist technology, green solutions such as planting street trees and creating more green spaces are also on the agenda. Such measures could make a significant contribution to improving the microclimate, because old trees reduce the air temperature by up to 5 degrees Celsius and store CO2, which is of enormous importance for the city climate.

The people of Cologne are called upon to become active themselves: watering trees, conscious ventilation in cooler hours and environmentally friendly transportation are simple but effective ways to make the summer months more pleasant. With a good hand and joint effort, Cologne can work to continue to offer a pleasant living environment in the future, despite the challenges posed by climate change.

For further information about the heat action plans and current developments, the city of Cologne can be found at this link be called. The technical details of the “Cooling Cologne” project are available Radio Erft to read, while providing comprehensive background information on the heat island effect National Geographic stand by.