MUMBAI: As global temperatures shatter records, a new class of “smart” materials is promising to turn buildings into giant heat sinks without using a single watt of electricity. Radiative cooling technology, once a niche scientific concept, is rapidly moving into the commercial mainstream, positioned as a key tool for climate adaptation in urban heat islands.
Unlike traditional reflective white paint, these advanced coatings utilize a “photonic” approach. They reflect the vast majority of solar payload while simultaneously radiating accumulated internal heat as infrared waves. Crucially, these waves fall within the “atmospheric window,” allowing heat to pass through the Earth’s atmosphere and dissipate directly into the cold vacuum of space.
For commercial real estate and industrial hubs, the financial implications are significant. Data suggests that implementing these coatings can:
Reduce Energy Consumption: Improve air conditioning efficiency by 10% to 40%.
Passive Cooling: In some instances, reduce total cooling-related energy bills by 80% to 90%.
Surface Temperature Relief: Thermal imaging shows treated surfaces reaching temperatures up to 35°C lower than untreated counterparts.
The sector is seeing a surge in venture activity, with firms like SkyCool Systems, Planck Energies, and Spacecool competing to simplify these complex films into easy-to-apply paints.
However, the industry faces a looming “green” dilemma. Many durable, low-cost coatings currently rely on fluoropolymers (such as Teflon), which are classified as “forever chemicals.” As environmental regulations tighten globally, the race is on to develop bio-based or biodegradable alternatives that maintain high reflectivity without the ecological footprint.
The frontier of smart paints is also expanding into the textile industry. Researchers are developing reflective fabrics and sports apparel that incorporate these radiative properties, aiming to protect outdoor workers and athletes from heatstroke in increasingly hostile climates.
While experts caution that radiative cooling isn’t a “silver bullet” to replace HVAC systems entirely—especially in humid or cloudy conditions—its low maintenance cost and scalability make it an essential component of the modern “green” building stack.