Columbia Engineering built a pigment-free paint filled with microscopic air pores; it stayed 6°C below surrounding air during hot desert tests in ArizonaResearchers at Columbia University and Purdue University have unveiled an experimental paint-like coating that can cool surfaces to tempera...
In 2020, Stanford's radiative cooling technology reached a California supermarket roof; panels were estimated to save 15% to 20% energy, while a Tempe bus shelter film was reported 30°F coolerNew technology allows surfaces to cool themselves under direct sunlight. This innovation reflects sunlight and radiates heat into outer spa...
Phoenix swapped black asphalt for a reflective road coating; noon surface heat fell 12°F, but pedestrians faced higher radiant heatIn an effort to lower urban heat, Phoenix tested innovative reflective pavement coatings on its roads, revealing that treated asphalt kept ...
In 2025, researchers built a box from porous PMMA sheets that reflected 96% of sunlight; 80°F outdoor air measured 65.3°F inside without electricityInnovative materials scientists are exploring passive cooling techniques to lessen the demand for air conditioning. They have engineered a ...
In 2020, researchers tested a self-moistening hydrogel mat under solar panels; it cooled them by at least 10°C and boosted output by up to 19%New research introduces a cooling gel for solar panels. This gel absorbs moisture at night and releases it as vapor during the day. The coo...
In 2023, Princeton researchers tested a naturally ventilated cooling box; it stayed below outdoor air while using radiative cooling and buoyancy-driven airflowResearchers have unveiled a groundbreaking cooling technique designed for buildings that eliminates the need for traditional air conditioni...
In a 2025 study, Penn State researchers tested porous PMMA sheets that reflected 96.4% of sunlight; a test box stayed 14.7°F cooler than the outdoor airInnovative researchers have crafted a groundbreaking porous plastic sheet that cools without any electrical input. By reflecting sunlight a...
In a 2011 Las Vegas test, a 15.24-cm wet roof pond lowered indoor peak operative temperature by about 8.5°C versus the outdoor maximumIn the summer of 2011, a groundbreaking building in Las Vegas experimented with roof pond cooling. Results indicated that wet roof ponds ef...
UPenn researchers copied elephant skin in porous cement tiles; a mockup home stayed near 32°C versus 42°C and 52°C with commercial stucco surfacesResearchers developed innovative cement tiles inspired by elephant skin for passive cooling. These tiles feature engineered cracks that abs...
Rains Raksha in India may not be enough to fight $250 billion heat billExtreme heat poses a significant economic threat to India's workforce and GDP. Lost labor hours and reduced productivity impact both worker...
In 2017, CU Boulder engineers turned glass microspheres into a 50-microliter film; 10 to 20 square meters of it could help cool a family-sized houseA team of researchers has developed a groundbreaking thin film that cools surfaces without the need for electricity or water. By employing ...
Argonne modeled Chicago’s August 2021 heatwave with different roof types; white roofs lowered air temperature by nearly 2°C and cooling energy use by 16.6%Transforming the rooftops of Chicago into cooler surfaces has led to a notable reduction in city temperatures. The use of white cool roofs ...
Berkeley Lab built a roof coating of vanadium dioxide that flips at 67°C; across 15 US climate zones, it outperformed existing coatings in 12 and cut household electricity by 10%A team of researchers has introduced an innovative roof coating designed to respond to changing seasonal temperatures. This cutting-edge ma...
Illinois researchers tested a passive cooling film in Houston; treated metal roofs measured more than 40°F cooler in direct sunlightAs American summers heat up, public health risks escalate, prompting researchers to create an innovative coating that cools metal roofs by ...
In 2019, University of Maryland researchers stripped lignin from wood; the resulting cooling material stayed 12°F cooler than natural wood in an Arizona testScientists developed engineered wood to reflect sunlight and release heat. This material stayed cooler than natural wood when exposed to su...
A reflective roof coating reduced peak roof temperature by 14.1°C and indoor temperature by 2.4°C; later research found evaporative cooling could add further benefitsInnovative roofing technologies are changing the game for building temperature regulation. By utilizing white reflective coatings, sunlight...
In 2023, scientists built a rooftop tile that opens its cooling vents when hot and closes them when cold, using no electricity and cutting cooling costs 3.1-foldInnovative engineers have created high-tech roof tiles that adjust themselves to optimize building temperatures automatically. By utilizing...