Chicago University researchers have designed a building material that adjusts its emission of infrared colour and heat according to outdoor temperatures, which could provide low-energy temperature regulation for buildings. In a recent paper published in Nature Sustainability, researchers explained that their non-flammable electrochromic building material contains a layer that can reversibly shift between solid […]
Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory claim to have developed a new cooling method, which they have named “ionocaloric cooling”. In a recent paper published in Science, researchers explained that ions in solution can be used to control the melting and crystallisation of a material, creating an ionocaloric cycle. Existing and […]
University of Notre Dame researchers have developed a new manufacturing process that allows thermoelectric devices to be produced faster and at lower cost. The innovative process uses intense pulsed light to sinter thermoelectric material in less than a second, while conventional sintering in thermal ovens can take hours. This method of turning nanoparticle inks into flexible […]
An Australian-Indian group of researchers is exploring the combined use of thermoelectric modules (TEMs) and rooftop photovoltaics (PV) in HVAC for buildings. Using air as the thermal fluid for the rooftop PV, the scientists designed a system that uses a primary TEM wall to deliver room air conditioning. Traditionally, TEMs have not been used in […]
The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) has published a new report surveying 810 women worldwide working in the HVAC&R sector, to better understand their careers, challenges, motivation, and opportunities. According to the report, more than 15 million people are employed worldwide in the HVAC&R industry, with the under-representation of women evidenced by the fact that […]
Researchers have found that planting vegetables crops near vents exhausting carbon dioxide-rich air can produce up to four times more growth. The farming system, known as BIG GRO, takes a sustainable waste resource that exists in excess in cities – human respiration – and applies it to farming. Conducted on the roof of the […]
A new research article linking economic growth and extreme heat has highlighted that the worst impacted communities will likely be the least culpable when it comes to man-made climate impacts. According to researchers Christopher W. Callahan and Justin S. Mankin, “global inequality is both a cause and consequence of the unequal burden of climate change”. […]
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers have designed an innovative passive cooling system that requires no power, and only a small amount of water. Combining radiative and evaporative cooling with thermal insulation in a slim package similar to a solar panel, designers say the system can provide up to 9.3°C of cooling from ambient temperature. […]
A comprehensive study conducted through the Victorian Healthy Homes Program has measured the impact of an energy efficiency and thermal comfort home upgrade on temperature, energy use, health and quality of life. It found that for every dollar saved in energy, more than $10 is saved in health. Over three years (2018–20), Sustainability Victoria oversaw […]
A new study has shown that temperatures outside a window of 12–21°C are linked to a marked rise in aggressive online behaviour. Conducted by Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), the study looked at more than four billion Twitter posts from US users between 2014–2020. Researchers used an AI algorithm to detect more than […]