Latest news with #passivecooling
News24
3 days ago
- General
- News24
How schools are being built for extreme heat — without aircon
Architects are turning to passive cooling. Be among those who shape the future with knowledge. Uncover exclusive stories that captivate your mind and heart with our FREE 14-day subscription trial. Dive into a world of inspiration, learning, and empowerment. You can only trial once. Start your FREE trial now
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bringnox Unveils Summer Window Shades as Passive Cooling Options for Heat Relief and Energy Savings
SHERIDAN, Wyo., June 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As record-breaking heat waves sweep across the United States from the Midwest to the East Coast, affecting nearly 200 million people, Bringnox, a brand that specializes in smart motorized window shades and blackout blinds, introduces its summer collection, offering a timely solution for those seeking to balance indoor comfort and rising energy costs. The recent extreme weather conditions have prompted many Americans to remain indoors in air-conditioned environments. However, this comfort comes at a price, as rising bills become a concern. In this climate, passive cooling options are gaining new relevance, with window shades emerging as an effective and affordable means to manage heat and reduce air-conditioning use. Bringnox's summer collection addresses this growing demand with window shades designed to block heat, filter UV rays, and help maintain cooler indoor environments for longer periods after air conditioning is used, ultimately cutting energy consumption and costs. The collection features a range of fabric options tailored to different spaces and lighting needs. For bedrooms and home entertainment rooms, full blackout shades made with high-density, silver-coated fabrics achieve over 99% light blockage. When paired with blackout strips, they create a nearly pitch-black setting, ideal for uninterrupted rest and optimal cooling efficiency. These shades reduce heat from direct sunlight, allowing air conditioners to operate more effectively. When integrated with smart home systems, they can open and close automatically based on sunrise and sunset or respond to voice and app commands for convenience and energy savings. For spaces requiring balanced light and privacy, such as living rooms and home offices, semi-blackout shades offer a lighter alternative. With varying levels of opacity, from 70% to as low as 5%, these light filtering shades allow natural light to filter in while softening glare and limiting heat. These options provide a sense of openness and ventilation without the oppressive feel of total enclosure. They are particularly well suited to maintaining a bright yet comfortable environment during long summer days. In terms of design, Bringnox's collection shows a variety of styles to match both aesthetic and functional needs. Roman shades, known for their sleek folds and clean visual lines, offer elegant shading while adapting easily to different levels of light control. When crafted from blackout fabrics, they provide excellent insulation; when made with translucent materials, they allow gentle natural light to enter. Zebra shades , composed of alternating light-filtering and blackout stripes, offer continuous adjustment between full transparency and total shade. Their layered configuration enables precise control over light and visibility, allowing users to create dynamic lighting effects that shift with the day. Among the most energy-efficient options in the collection are the cellular shades, which are favored for their unique hexagonal structure that traps air and forms a barrier between the window and the room. This design significantly reduces heat transfer and enhances acoustic insulation. Whether in a full blackout or semi-blackout form, cellular shades help preserve indoor temperature and support privacy. With smart integration, users can set schedules based on sunrise/sunset patterns or activate remote controls via voice commands, all contributing to enhanced convenience and energy savings through proactive temperature management strategies when away from home. Bringnox remains dedicated to transforming the experience of living spaces by providing smart blinds that seamlessly integrate with modern lifestyles. The introduction of this summer collection not only offers a timely solution to record-breaking temperatures but also serves as an essential tool in managing rising household expenses efficiently throughout the season ahead. For more information, please visit: CONTACT: info@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Bringnox
Arab News
26-06-2025
- Science
- Arab News
KAUST develops new cooling technology to improve efficiency and lifespan of solar panels
RIYADH: The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology has made a notable research breakthrough, developing a new composite material that improves the efficiency and lifespans of the cells used in solar panels through cooling. The new technology has the potential to cut down the maintenance cost of solar cells, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Results of the study, carried out in partnership with the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, were published in the journal Materials Science and Engineering. The study targeted the issues of commercial solar panels, which only convert around 20 percent of sunlight into electricity, while the remainder is absorbed as heat or reflected away. Other problems include high temperatures, which reduce the efficiency and performance of the cells, shortening their lifespan and demanding more frequent replacement. This means that cooling is essential, yet traditional cooling systems such as fans and pumps consume electrical energy; passive cooling, on the other hand, requires no electricity. Prof. Chiaochiang Gan, lead researcher at KAUST, explained that the nanomaterials used in the passive cooling process are thin substances that can be applied to multiple systems that demand cooling, such as solar cells and agricultural greenhouses, without affecting their performance. He said that the study, conducted through the Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies, led to the creation of a material that absorbs moisture from the air at night and releases it during the day. Covering solar cells with this material, when deployed in coastal areas of Saudi Arabia for weeks, helps keep them cool. The passive cooling technology also helps reduce the cost of generating electricity from these cells by 18 percent. Experiments were also conducted in cold and rainy regions of the US to test its effectiveness in different climate conditions; the results proved the technology effective in all environments. Preliminary studies also show that other applications for the material include light-emitting devices, which typically suffer from reduced efficiency at higher temperatures. Abdullah Al-Muqbil, researcher at the Institute of Microelectronics and Semiconductors, director of the Optics and Electronics Center of Excellence at KACST, and co-author of the study, noted that these findings also open up potential for application in lighting and laser technologies. The research team at KAUST achieved a record-breaking performance in solar cell efficiency due to their specialized designs, showcasing the diverse expertise at the university, according to SPA. The Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies is one of four research centers of excellence run by KAUST. It aims to support the Kingdom's national goals in fields such as artificial intelligence, food security, renewable energy and storage technologies and smart health.
