LAUSR

Description Dual-use devices offer a different path for more-sustainable living A fivefold increase in cooling-related greenhouse gas emissions is expected by 2050 (1) from a combination of improved standards of living, especially in countries with humid climates, and the ongoing overall warming of the planet. Alternative approaches to efficient cooling are required to meet these needs. Although a large effort is underway to improve the energy efficiency of cooling more generally, a potentially important strategy is found by looking at the small water droplets that emerge on cold surfaces. Most people have experience with this process, from the condensation formed from air conditioners to cold drinks taken from a refrigerator. Although conventional chillers are becoming more efficient, integrating a passive radiative cooling strategy in which the sky is used as a cold sink could not only improve performance but also produce fresh water. This may help with cooling and potentially also with water scarcity issues in many regions of the world.