Professor Develops Technology That Cools People Down — Without Using Electricity Or AC

Aug 26, 2021 by apost team

It can be extremely pricey to pay for electricity to run an air conditioning unit during the summer months as temperatures continue to rise. With heat waves sweeping across the United States, more and more people are using their AC units and running them for longer periods of time. Looking for more environmentally friendly methods and a way to change the amount of electricity they use, people are now curiously looking for new and innovative ways to stay cool. Using research about a completely natural phenomenon, one professor and his company co-founder have implemented a revolutionary way to help people stay cool and comfortable.

Eli Goldstein is SkyCool Systems’ co-founder and CEO. He has been working on finding a way to mimic how the planet cools itself, using that information to think of new ways for humans to stay cool without having to use any type of electricity or an air conditioner. He has been working with co-founder and UCLA professor Aaswath Raman to continue developing their company and hopefully help people and the earth cool down. 

SkyCool Systems is a company committed to solving the world’s cooling challenge by improving the efficiency of cooling systems and methods. The company has been around for five years and has already created a positive influence on some places in the United States, specifically in the state of California. After years of research and testing their products, the makers of SkyCool Systems have already begun helping people keep cool even in the hot summer months without having to worry about using electricity or an air conditioning unit.

SkyCool Systems uses technology to find an alternative means to cool down by using technology that mimics how the planet cools itself, according to CNN Business. “Our planet naturally cools itself by sending heat out and in the form of infrared light or radiation,'' Goldstein said, explaining the process known as radiative cooling. “We’re using that effect to essentially radiate heat out and out during the day and at night, even under direct sunlight.”

According to CNN Business, SkyCool Systems does this through rooftop panels that resemble solar panels in appearance but actually reflect 97% of the sunlight that hits them. This helps cool the surface below. The system involves a network of water-filled pipes below the panels. CNN Business reported that these panels keep the water cool before it flows into a refrigeration or air conditioning system. Since the panels cool naturally, it helps the entire system use less electricity. However, the system doesn’t work as well without sunlight and also has a relatively high cost.

A grocery store in Stockton, California, has been using SkyCool’s system since 2020 and reported that it saw a drop in its electric bills. Jesus Valenzuela told CNN Business that his store saw their bill go down “just a little bit,” and that the panels have saved the store about $3,000 a month. CNN Business reported that the company has continued to focus on commercial applications of their technology, including a retail store and data center, but hopes to later start installing panels on the roofs of homes in California. Goldstein said, “We’re just excited to be able to use this new technology for good.”

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What do you think about this innovative method of cooling that doesn’t require people to use electricity or AC? Let us know, and be sure to pass this on to your family and friends, too.