Latest news with #coolingsolutions
CBS News
27-06-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
How a "cool block" in one Massachusetts city could provide a template for combatting extreme heat
Boston — For Arwa Ait-Chaib and her mother, Wafa El Hidar, summertime in Chelsea, Massachusetts, means trying to beat the heat. "There are always some days that I feel like we live in the middle of the Sahara desert," Ait-Chaib told CBS News. Their Chelsea neighborhood, located just across the river from Boston, offers little shade. "We had no trees over here at all," El Hidar said. Chelsea is plagued by what is known as the Urban Heat Island effect, where dense development and a lack of green space can cause some neighborhoods to bake. "I just can't stand it," Ait-Chaib said. "It's like, I feel sticky. It's humid out, and if you go out the sun immediately burns your skin." Research from the nonprofit Climate Central shows peak temperatures in such urban areas can be 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than greener ones. "We're basically an island of hot stuff," Bianca Bowman, a climate justice manager with GreenRoots, a local Boston environmental group, said of Chelsea. GreenRoots is experimenting with cooling solutions on a single block in Chelsea that GreenRoots calls the "cool block." "We looked at those spots and said, 'OK, where can we throw as many solutions as possible to cool those areas down?'" Bowman said. In what it calls an "urban laboratory," GreenRoots has planted more than 100 trees on the block, resurfaced the street in lighter colors to reflect heat, and painted nearby rooftops white. GreenRoots is partnering with the city of Chelsea on the project, which is receiving a combination of funding from the state and philanthropic foundations. "So when you paint a rooftop white, it's actually reflecting heat instead of absorbing heat," Bowman said. Fixes like these could help save lives as climate change makes heat waves worse. Climate Central research has found that 88% of 247 major U.S. cities now have more extremely hot summer days than they did 55 years ago. Climate Central defines an extremely hot summer day as one that has a maximum temperature hotter than 95% of all summer days between 1970 and 2024. On Tuesday, Boston recorded a high of 102 degrees, the hottest June day in the city since 1872, according to the National Weather Service. Boston University researchers are working with Chelsea residents this summer to study the problem even further. Some families are wearing small sensors to track heat exposure. Their research shows parks, trees and green space can reduce peak urban temperatures by two to nine degrees Fahrenheit. Of course, finding space in big, crowded cities is not always easy, so those that design such spaces have to make the most of what they have. A project is underway to replace pavement behind Ait-Chaib's Chelsea home with a park that is being built by the city of Chelsea, but inspired by the "Cool Blocks" initiative. She says it feels like the neighborhood is improving. Chris Reed, founder of the landscape architecture studio Stoss Landscape Urbanism, designed Boston's groundbreaking Urban Forest Plan, first launched by the city in 2022. The plan established the city's first urban forester position and urban forestry department. It also put in place procedures for preserving and extending the city's tree canopy. Under the plan, on one particular strip of land, about 400 trees were planted on just a single acre, Reed explains. "So, you don't need acres and acres and acres of land," Reed told CBS News. "These kinds of places are in cities everywhere and can be transformed one by one." This story was produced in partnership with Climate Central.
Zawya
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
Johnson Controls Arabia to deliver integrated cooling solutions for CEER's landmark electric vehicle facility
Jeddah – Johnson Controls Arabia, a global leader in HVAC systems, smart building controls, and energy efficiency, has signed a strategic agreement with Modern Building Leaders (MBL) to supply and operate a fully integrated YORK cooling system for the new CEER manufacturing facility. This marks a significant step forward in the evolution of industrial technology in Saudi Arabia and supports the Kingdom's pioneering end-to-end electric vehicle brand. Under this partnership, Johnson Controls Arabia will deliver a comprehensive cooling solutions powered by cutting-edge YORK technologies, including 12 chillers, various cooling units, with a total capacity of 33,000 TR. The CEER facility, located in King Abdullah Economic City, is a foundational project in the development of Saudi Arabia's electric vehicle sector. It aims to produce world-class electric cars with a focus on sustainability, efficiency, and advanced technology. Commenting on the milestone, Dr. Mohanad AlShaikh, CEO of Johnson Controls Arabia, stated, 'We are proud to play a role in this ambitious national project that reflects our commitment to delivering smart, sustainable solutions aligned with Saudi Vision 2030. Our success in this initiative demonstrates the trust our partners place in YORK's technical strength and reliability, and our ability to provide integrated solutions that rival the world's leading providers, driven by expert engineering teams, fast execution, and excellent after-sales support.' This achievement coincides with the launch of the region's first YORK air-cooled chiller production line with 600-ton capacity at the YORK manufacturing complex in King Abdullah Economic City, Jeddah. It was accompanied by the opening of the Kingdom's first AHRI-certified performance testing laboratory for air-cooled chillers of this capacity, reinforcing Saudi Arabia's role as a regional hub for innovation in the cooling and HVAC sector. The inauguration was attended by senior executives from all stakeholders, including Mr. Tareq Telmesani, CEO of MBL, and Mr. Mohamed Fathy El-Bordany, Plant Facility and Maintenance Director at CEER. This collaboration marks a strategic milestone in Johnson Controls Arabia's journey, strengthening its position as a key partner in major manufacturing projects across the Kingdom and reinforcing its role in advancing industrial infrastructure with high-efficiency, sustainable cooling solutions that meet the highest global standards.
Entrepreneur
20-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Tan90 Thermal Solutions Raises INR 20 Cr Series A Led by NABVENTURES
With these funds, Tan90 aims to expand its footprint to 10 additional cities in the coming months, with a particular focus on Tier-II cities. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Tan90 Thermal Solutions, a Chennai-based deep-tech startup focused on sustainable thermal energy management, has raised INR 20 crore in a Series A funding round led by NABVENTURES. The round also saw participation from Blue Ashva Capital, Capital-A, and 3i Partners. The fresh infusion of capital follows Tan90's earlier raise of USD 4.6 million from Social Alpha and other investors. The funds will be strategically deployed to develop new product lines targeted at cold chains, HVAC systems, and data centres. Additionally, Tan90 plans to expand its presence to 10 more Indian cities—particularly Tier-II cities—while establishing a footprint in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. "Cooling infrastructure must be on-demand, scalable, and sustainable, without relying on heavy capital investments or outdated systems," said Soumalya Mukherjee, Co-founder of Tan90. "With this funding, we are accelerating our efforts to expand into new industries and markets and build future-ready cooling solutions. We aim to position India as a centre for innovative thermal management while creating globally relevant cooling ecosystems." Founded in January 2019 by three PhD graduates—Soumalya Mukherjee, Rajani Kant Rai, and Shiv Sharma—Tan90 Thermal Solutions offers a range of climate-resilient, energy-efficient thermal management products. The company's proprietary Phase Change Materials (PCMs), developed in-house and covering temperatures from –50°C to +80°C, are at the core of its offerings. These PCMs enable passive cooling by storing latent heat, offering longer cycle lives and double the turnaround time compared to existing alternatives. Tan90's product suite includes: Phase Change Materials (PCMs): For passive cooling in cold chains, logistics, and data centres. For passive cooling in cold chains, logistics, and data centres. Portable Cold Storage Solutions: Insulated containers for maintaining temperatures during transport of perishables. Insulated containers for maintaining temperatures during transport of perishables. Customised Thermal Solutions: Tailored cooling systems for varied industrial needs. Tailored cooling systems for varied industrial needs. Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS): A capital-light service model active in eight cities, with zero customer churn, helping clients in quick commerce, food logistics, and healthcare. "Tan90 is driving the next phase of thermal innovation with scalable, efficient solutions that align with our mission to enable climate resilience and improve logistics," said Vikas Bhatt, Managing Director, NABVENTURES. Operating near breakeven and posting over 70% CAGR in the past three years, Tan90 is poised to lead India's charge in building innovative, globally scalable thermal energy ecosystems.
