Researchers at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University have developed a cement based paint that cools buildings by absorbing and evaporating water, similar to how human sweat cools the body.
Called CCP-30, the paint combines three cooling mechanisms: reflecting sunlight, releasing heat as infrared radiation and evaporating stored moisture. It contains a porous cement like material that can hold water and gradually release it through evaporation.
In tests, a model house coated with CCP-30 remained nearly 4.5°C cooler than houses covered with conventional white paint and a commercial cooling coating. The paint reportedly reflected 88%–92% of sunlight and could hold water equivalent to about 30% of its own weight.
The researchers also tested the coating on model houses in Singapore for two years. Unlike the other coatings CCP-30 remained white and retained its cooling performance despite exposure to tropical weather.
The technology could potentially reduce air-conditioning demand in hot and humid cities, although it remains at an early stage and has not yet been widely commercialised.