Self-cooled roofing materials

Scientists at the University of Technology in Sydney have invented a self-cooled roof material.

Roofing materials are self-cooled

The team used this material to make the roof for the faculty of the Faculty of Science, University of Sydney. The test results show that the roof is highly capable of cooling under direct sunlight in the summer, Science Alert said today.

Infrared wavelength on new roof material. (Photo: Science Alert)

The material is made from overlapping polymer layers , placed on a thin silver plastic film and absorbed only 3% of sunlight. Even more impressive, it can also use infrared wavelengths to disperse direct heat into space.

" This new roofing material can stay 11 degrees below the current state of the art white roof material ," said Geoff Smith, lead researcher.

This new roofing material can help reduce the cost of air conditioning for the building, the environmental effects caused by the air conditioner as well as the seriousness of the urban heat island problem.