Passive building strategies for climate change

Chinese Landscape Architect Kongjian Yu’s “Sponge cities” approach is saving cities from flooding. Sponge cities use soft green surfaces to slow water down. Sponge cities allows water to spread out and be absorbed by the landscape to hydrate soil and recharge aquifers. The Dutch call it “Room for the river”. Sponge cities approach also seeks capture water and re-use it for drinking and irrigation. This landscape architectural approach is the opposite to engineering solutions that quickly pipe water away down efficient concrete channels and pipes. As we build our cities we convert large areas of natural landscape to highly paved impervious surfaces. Stormwater runs off these surfaces very quickly compared to soft green landscape. All this water ends up in our creek’s and rivers in minutes rather than hours which can lead to flooding. Kongjian Yu rightly points out that haven’t changed the way we design cities for 200 years. When we design our streets with kerb and gutters and efficient concrete storm water pipes, our street trees sit high and dry as water flows past them. We allow perfectly clean water off roofs to flow onto streets and immediately be contaminated with brake dust, heavy metals, oils, dust, cigarette butts and chip packets. We have theoretical software modeling that drives extremely expensive engineered biological deserts euphemistically called “rain gardens”. A sponge cities approach would instead: >> Greatly reduce impervious hard surfaces and replace with green or porous materials. >> Use green roofs to capture and slow water while also reducing urban heat and increasing biodiversity. >> Direct clean roof water to storage lakes to re-use as drinkable water like Wannon Waters “Roof to Tap” scheme. >> Use passive irrigation that waters our street trees first and hydrate the landscape for a cool green city. >> Have porous kerbs that allow through to irrigate verge planting. >> Capture and stores water off streets into 200mm deep wicking beds below lawn areas and sports fields to provide resilient green open space. >> Use porous paving to soak up low flows and provide friction to slow water down. >> Have leaky rock wiers along creeks to create a series of intermittent pools to slow water down and hydrate the landscape. >> Allow trees and shrubs In drainage lines to slow water down and provide habitat and aesthetic value. >> Not use expensive sports fields with highly specialised sandy loam turf underlay as detention basins. >> integrate flood detention basins for the 1% events into the landscape so that 99% of the time they are aesthetic and useful open spaces. As master Yoda would say, “Unlearn you must”. #spongecities #water #climateresilience You can read this NYT gift article without a subscription. https://lnkd.in/gHBiMG76

What if your house's shingles were smart enough to know when to keep heat in or let it out? A new paper in Device might make that a reality, which could reduce heating & cooling needs by 2.5-fold! Passively adaptive radiative switch for thermoregulation in buildings by Charles Xiao, Bolin Liao & Elliot W. Hawkes https://lnkd.in/eNFhiSiJ Highlights: • Tile-like radiative switch passively switches between cooling and heating states • Switches between cooling and heating states within 3°C of the switch temperature • Compared with static devices, it reduces cooling and heating needs by more than 2.5× The bigger picture: Currently, 50% of U.S. building energy consumption goes toward heating and cooling. While climate change will increase the need for cooling, heating demand is expected to remain high and increase in some areas. To meet this demand, we need more efficient methods of heating and cooling buildings. We can reduce building energy demand by reflecting sunlight and emitting infrared light into space when it is hot and absorbing sunlight and minimizing infrared light emission when it is cold. We built and tested a device that, depending on its temperature, automatically and passively (i.e., without electricity) switches between heating and cooling states. Compared with non-switching devices, it reduces the energy consumption for cooling by 3.1× and heating by 2.6×. We envision using such devices as roofing tiles in the future.

Drexel University researchers developed building materials inspired by elephant and jackrabbit ears that can passively regulate temperature. The concrete contains vascular networks filled with paraffin-based phase-change material that absorbs heat when warm and releases it when cool. Buildings consume nearly 40% of all energy, with half spent on temperature control. The most effective design uses diamond-shaped channel patterns that slow surface heating/cooling to 1-1.25°C per hour while maintaining structural integrity. This biomimetic approach could significantly reduce HVAC energy demands, addressing the 63% of building energy loss through walls, floors, and ceilings.

Energy consumption soars 50% by 2030. A desert school in India stays cool without AC. 400 girls learn what nature already knew. In Jaisalmer's 45°C heat, this oval building defies physics. No cooling systems. No power bills. Just ancient wisdom shaped by New York architects and local artisans. Think about that. Traditional Desert Schools: ↳ AC units running 24/7 ↳ Monthly power bills: ₹200,000+ ↳ Breaks down in sandstorms ↳ Students suffer when grid fails Jaisalmer's Natural Reality: ↳ Zero artificial cooling ↳ Local sandstone insulation ↳ Traditional building techniques ↳ Cool classrooms year-round But here's what stopped me cold: While the world installs more AC units to fight rising heat—accelerating the very problem they solve—these 400 girls study comfortably in nature's own cooling system. Diana Kellogg Architects didn't import solutions. They asked local craftsmen who've built in deserts for centuries. The answer? Jaisalmer sandstone. Thick walls. Strategic curves. Techniques their grandfathers knew. The girls wear Sabyasachi-designed uniforms—elegant blue kurtis with violet trousers—donated free. Because empowerment shouldn't look like charity. What happens when tradition meets innovation: ↳ Construction cost: 70% less than modern schools ↳ Operating cost: Near zero ↳ Local artisans employed: Dozens ↳ Girls educated: 400 and growing The Multiplication Effect: 1 school built = 400 futures changed 10 schools copying = 4,000 girls empowered 100 desert communities adapting = energy crisis avoided At scale = cooling without warming the planet Traditional architecture fights climate. This school works with it. We're installing 10 new AC units every second globally. Meanwhile, a golden oval in the desert proves we already had the answer. Because when energy demand rises 50% by 2030, the solution isn't more power. It's remembering what we forgot. Follow me, Dr. Martha Boeckenfeld for proof that ancient wisdom beats modern waste. ♻️ Share if schools should teach sustainability by being sustainable.

U.S. scientists created an ultra-thin material that reflects heat but lets light pass through—it could cool entire cities Engineers at MIT have developed a revolutionary film just a few microns thick that reflects infrared radiation—the main source of heat—while allowing visible light to pass through. This could turn any window or surface into a natural cooling panel, drastically reducing energy needs in hot climates. The material works like a mirror for heat but remains optically clear. It’s made from a layered nanostructure that bounces infrared waves outward, while visible light enters freely. During real-world tests, it reduced surface temperatures by over 10°C without any electricity. It’s being called “passive air conditioning,” and for good reason. When applied to rooftops, glass, or vehicle surfaces, the film cools interior temperatures while maintaining brightness and visibility. That means lower AC costs, cooler cities, and less energy waste. What makes it scalable is the manufacturing process: it’s produced using roll-to-roll printing like newspaper sheets, meaning entire skyscrapers could be coated in days, not months. It also resists UV damage and self-cleans in rain. Urban planners are eyeing the tech for smart cities, where millions of windows could become passive climate regulators. Combined with solar panels, the cooling film may help achieve zero-emission building targets. This is one of the most elegant climate solutions—almost invisible, but deeply impactful.

“Now, researchers from McGill University, UCLA and Princeton describe in a new study an inexpensive, sustainable alternative to mechanical cooling with refrigerants in hot and arid climates, and a way to mitigate dangerous heat waves during electricity blackouts. The study, titled "Passive radiative cooling to sub-ambient temperatures inside naturally ventilated buildings," is published in Cell Reports Physical Science. The researchers set out to answer how to achieve a new benchmark in passive cooling inside naturally conditioned buildings in hot climates such as Southern California. They examined the use of roof materials that radiate heat into the cold universe, even under direct sunlight, and how to combine them with temperature-driven ventilation. These cool radiator materials and coatings are often used to stop roofs overheating. Researchers have also used them to improve heat rejection from chillers. But there is untapped potential for integrating them into architectural design more fully, so they can not only reject indoor heat to outer space in a passive way, but also drive regular and healthy air changes. "We found we could maintain air temperatures several degrees below the prevailing ambient temperature, and several degrees more below a reference 'gold standard' for passive cooling," said Remy Fortin, lead author and Ph.D. candidate at the Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture "We did this without sacrificing healthy ventilation air changes." This was a considerable challenge, considering air exchanges are a source of heating when the aim is to keep a room cooler than the exterior. The researchers hope the findings will be used to positively impact communities suffering from dangerous climate heating and heat waves. "We hope that materials scientists, architects, and engineers will be interested in these results, and that our work will inspire more holistic thinking for how to integrate breakthroughs in radiative cooling materials with simple but effective architectural solutions," said Salmaan Craig, Principal Investigator for the project and Assistant Professor at the Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture.” Report is here: https://lnkd.in/gE2VxGuX https://lnkd.in/gHgVa9FQ

New Method to Reduce Air Conditioning Dependence 🌬️ Scientists at the University of Sharjah have developed a method to cool buildings using natural ventilation techniques, aiming to reduce reliance on energy-intensive air conditioners. This method includes strategies like cross-ventilation and wind catchers, effectively lowering indoor temperatures by up to 0.7°C. The study involved a prototype building in the UAE, where traditional methods like the Barjeel wind tower were combined with modern designs. The research showed that while natural ventilation can't completely replace air conditioning, it significantly reduces its usage, especially during milder seasons. This approach enhances building sustainability and reduces energy consumption. Innovations in passive cooling methods are essential for creating sustainable buildings and reducing energy consumption. By integrating traditional cooling techniques with modern architecture, we can make significant strides toward greener living environments. Stay informed, stay curious! 🌐📚 Science never ceases to amaze! 🌟✨ #GreenBuilding #Sustainability #EnergyEfficiency #Innovation #ClimateAction Article Number: DOI: 10.1061/JAEIED.AEENG-1682 https://lnkd.in/gMfm9E_M Research Institutions and Researchers: University of Sharjah, UAE Vittorino Belpoliti, Emad Mushtaha, @Ahmed Saleem Bold Futures Dr. Abbas Elmualim

All insulation looks equal — until 4:00 PM. That’s when the heat stored in conventional, high-carbon insulation starts to leak back indoors. The material's performance cracks under pressure, and you go from feeling comfortable to suffering in your own home. It’s a cycle that makes no sense: we burn fossil fuels to create insulation that heats the planet, only for it to fail during the very heatwaves it helped create. The data from our 35°C (95°F) field test shows the shocking difference: The Feel Test Polystyrene Walls: The interior hit a stuffy 29°C (82°F). Straw Walls: The interior stayed at a cool 24°C (75°F). The Heat Wave Test Synthetics: Surrender their heat after just 6 hours. Bio-Based: Absorb and hold heat for 12+ hours. The heat that gets through is 5 times weaker. The Carbon Test Foam/Fiberglass: EMITS ~200 kg of CO₂ per cubic meter. Straw/Wood Fibre: STORES >200 kg of CO₂ per cubic meter. Stop investing in materials that are a liability to your comfort and the planet. It's time to build with walls that actually work. #PassiveHouse #ClimateAction #HealthyHomes

Back in the 80s, this house was already thinking about the future. It wasn’t designed to be flashy. It was designed to perform. An attached greenhouse stretched along its side, turning sunlight into free heating. The idea was simple: let the sun in, store its warmth, and release it when needed. Families who lived here could cut their energy bills in half—not because of machines, but because of design. What’s fascinating is that this wasn’t just an experiment. Research in the 1980s was already proving how effective these strategies could be. Computer simulations showed that south-facing glass, when combined with the right orientation and shading, dramatically reduced heating loads. Thermal mass—floors, walls, even furniture—acted like batteries, soaking in the heat during the day and releasing it at night. And when paired with insulation and airtight construction, the savings were undeniable. Some studies even found that passive solar homes used 20–25% less energy compared to conventional houses of the same era. And yet, while the numbers spoke clearly, the housing industry moved on—faster towards technology, slower towards wisdom. Looking at this house today, I’m reminded that sustainability isn’t a new invention. It has always been here, in design principles that listened to nature rather than fought against it. We often think the “future” of housing means new gadgets, new systems, new software. But maybe the future was already here, back in the 80s—quietly built in glass, sunlight, and smart layouts. Maybe the future of design isn’t about adding more. Maybe it’s about using what we already have, better. — Mishul Gupta #Architecture #InteriorDesign #SustainableDesign #PassiveSolar #DesignThinking #FutureOfHousing #GreenArchitecture #EnergyEfficiency