Carbon Zero Cooling Systems
Unfortunately, the Earth is trapped in a destructive loop. Global warming is compelling people to buy more air-conditioning units. The more ACs are used, the more heat is released into the atmosphere, the more electricity is used, and the more carbon is released. Finally, going back to where we started, the more carbon is released, the worse Global warming gets.
It is estimated that the number of air conditioning units in the world will quadruple by 2050. This means there will be more than 14 billion ACs working in warm seasons. This amount of energy consumption can have disastrous effects on the atmosphere and the already-existing global warming issue.
The good news is that some companies have made zero-carbon systems that can lower a building’s temperature up to 10 degrees. These systems mostly need to be implemented in new buildings before they are constructed. Therefore, it takes time and effort to install them and make a meaningful change in the global system of air conditioning.
Therefore, investing in these projects can make a massive difference in the future of the Earth. Having the necessary financial support, these ideas can easily reach the mass production phases. This can help these ideas be sold at a much lower price as well.
SkyCool
SkyCool is a company that has created unique technology for helping existing cooling systems work more efficiently. This technology includes a thin metal film installed on your roof. This film returns the heat into the atmosphere without causing any harm to the climate or the Ozone layer. The specific design of this system allows the sunlight to be reflected into space by more than 97%. This, in turn, makes the surface of the film much cooler than the other surfaces lying in the sun.
The SkyCool systems are originally designed for cooling down refrigeration systems in supermarkets and data centers. These buildings require much more cooling power than office buildings and residential complexes. Using SkyCool can save up to 40% on the electricity bills.
What’s more, SkyCool systems can easily be installed on residential roofs. The system consumption of electricity and water is zero. Also, it does not make any noise and does not harm nature in any way. Finally, the SkyCool panels can either be installed independently or be added to the existing air conditioning to increase its efficiency.
SkyCool is currently a private company that has ten major investors. Some of the investors of SkyCool are Axiom Associates, Harbor Street Ventures, National Science Foundation, and Cleantech University. So far, SkyCool has raised 3.3 million dollars as seed funding.
Ultra-White Paint
Another tech-based solution for cooling buildings down is using Ultra-White Paint. This paint has recently been developed at the Purdue University. Researchers in this university believe that using this pain can make buildings up to 18 degrees Fahrenheit cooler.
This paint is able to reduce the temperature of the room beneath it because it reflects up to 98% of the sunlight back into space. This means that the reflected sunlight won’t cause the atmosphere to heat up either. The building covered in ultra-white paint keeps cooler than a regular building and eliminates the need for air conditioning altogether.
There are two main reasons why the ultra-white paint reflects the sunlight without heating the atmosphere. First, this paint is made of a chemical called barium sulfate. This chemical is abundantly found in nature and was previously used for photo paper and cosmetics. Second, the barium sulfate particles used in the ultra-white paint have various sizes, making it more reflexive than ever.
The ultra-white pain has been developed very recently. The developer, Xiulin Ruan, a Purdue University professor, is currently trying to perfect the formula for the paint. He is also trying to find the necessary investment for the mass production of this paint. This research was supported by the Cooling Technologies Research Center at Purdue University and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Right now, the application for the patent has been filled, and the final products might hit the market very soon.
ICAX
ICAX has yet another excellent idea to make residential and commercial spaces cooler with little or no electricity at all. ICAX has gone another way, providing houses with heating and cooling without spending any electricity. There is good news and bad news. The good news is that the same system can provide you with heating in the winter months and cooling in the summer months. The bad news is that this system needs specific infrastructure. So, it would be best if you thought of building these systems before you build your house.
The ICAX system works with a series of “banks” placed under the structure. These banks are designed so that they can store warm air in the summer and release it through floor ducks. During the winter, this process is reversed. The cold air of the winter is stored to be used on the hot summer days.
There are two types of release systems. One works completely free and cannot be regulated or restrained — the other works with minimum electricity usage to control the airflow through the floor ducts.
This Grounds Source Heating, IHT™, can reduce annual carbon emissions up to 80%. It also can be practically cost-free once you install the banks and the duct equipment. These systems can be installed in both residential and commercial buildings making sure you’ll have carbon-free air conditioning.
The British government has allocated 320 million euros of grant money to non-residential buildings such as hospitals, schools, and universities for installing the ICAX systems. Public and private companies can receive up to 5 million euros for construction and installation costs.
Conclusion
As global warming gets more serious, more companies are searching for innovative solutions to keep houses and buildings cool in the heat of the day. These companies offer various methods for cooling buildings down without using electricity or any other kind of fuel.
Sometimes, the same principles can be applied to heating as well as cooling systems. Whatever the case, investing in these technologies can pave the way for a carbon-free future in the air conditioning sections.
