Fabrication of Sub-Ambient Radiative Cooling Paints for the Malaysian Tropical Climate

The project aims to develop radiative cooling paints which can withstand the challenges presented by the local climate conditions in Malaysia including strong UV rays, high humidity levels, variable local wind speeds, and frequent tropical rains. This research is distinct in its focus on validating the material’s performance under the intense and demanding conditions of a tropical climate, a crucial test that many existing passive cooling solutions have not been rigorously subjected to. Overcoming these environmental hurdles while being economically competitive with commercial paints is crucial to the practicality and effectiveness of TiO₂-based paint in this specific context. The performance of these cooling paints was meticulously measured in terms of technicality (net cooling power and the maximum achievable reduction in sub ambient temperatures within the room). The goal of implementing cooling paint is to enhance the cooling efficiency of buildings by preventing absorbance of excessive heat, reducing the demand for energy-intensive air conditioning systems which leads to reduced greenhouse gases emissions and operational expenditure savings.