Innovative building designs featuring protruding zigzag patterns can maintain internal temperatures up to 3°C (5.4°F) cooler than traditional walls without consuming energy. This architectural advancement promises significant reductions in energy usage for cooling systems, contributing to the fight against global warming.
According to experts, implementing such designs can lead to more energy-efficient buildings and lower electricity consumption for cooling needs.
The demand for air conditioning has surged globally as temperatures rise and more households gain access to cooling systems. Projections indicate that greenhouse gas emissions from cooling could soar by more than three times by 2050. Consequently, researchers are increasingly focused on developing passive cooling solutions that operate without energy input.
One effective method includes painting roofs white to enhance sunlight reflection, thereby keeping buildings cooler. The cooling effect is magnified when roofs are coated with materials that reflect most sunlight while allowing infrared radiation to escape through the atmospheric transparency window, a spectrum that avoids absorption by greenhouse gases.
While this technology effectively cools roofs, it encounters challenges with walls. Materials that excel at emitting infrared radiation tend to absorb it as well, and surfaces adjacent to walls, like concrete pavements, radiate significant infrared heat.
To address this, engineers have proposed walls designed with zigzag protrusions, resembling a staircase. The upward-facing sections effectively emit heat to the atmosphere, while the downward-facing sections reflect infrared heat.
Initial testing involved constructing a one-meter high model with both zigzag and flat surfaces in New Jersey. Results showed that the zigzag surface remained an average of 2°C cooler over 24 hours, and during peak sunlight hours, it was 3°C cooler than the flat counterpart.
Experts note that cost-effective materials with the essential properties are readily available, allowing for retrofitting of existing buildings with corrugated panels. Simulations suggest that this innovative design could provide interior cooling benefits varying by window size, with potential energy savings reaching up to 25%.
While the zigzag cooling technology is particularly suited for warmer climates, it could increase heating needs during winter in colder regions. To mitigate this, researchers have suggested an adjustable design with hinged “fins” that can be positioned to enhance heat absorption in winter and minimize it during summer.
