Porous plastic sheets can cool buildings by radiating light to space

Traditional cooling systems for buildings use refrigerants and electricity, which contribute to the atmospheric greenhouse effect that exacerbates more extreme weather events. In response, materials scientists have turned to unconventional methods for cooling down buildings. An international team of researchers co-led by Akhlesh Lakhtakia, Penn State Evan Pugh University Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics, has developed porous plastic sheets that can lower building temperatures through radiative cooling.