The race to cool buildings with less electricity

America's answer to hotter summers has overwhelmingly been more air conditioning, and engineers are now looking for ways to keep people cool without driving up electricity demand.

Why it matters: The need for cooling is surging. The issue isn't just how to generate more electricity — it's how to use less of it and ease demand when grids are most strained.

Interview to Discover Magazine

I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Discover Magazine about the growing impact of air conditioning on cities, its implications for energy use and urban heat, and the exciting opportunities offered by innovative passive cooling technologies. We discussed how sustainable cooling solutions can help create more resilient, comfortable, and climate-responsive urban environments. Many thanks to Discover Magazine for the invitation and for highlighting this important topic.

An Environmental Crisis: Urban Overheating with Professor Matthaios Santamouris

 

Our cities are becoming heat traps. Every year, streets, rooftops and buildings trap more heat, pushing temperatures higher, making extreme heat one of the fastest growing threats to urban life today.

Professor Matthaios Santamouris has spent his career developing the technologies and strategies helping cities survive rising temperatures. His work confronts a critical question:

Can our cities survive the heat they’ve created?

Heat-Proofing Cities Becomes Mandatory Amid Global Heatwaves by Joe Ennis

When I wrote this article, I was very much thinking of Australian cities. Or those in the Middle East. But we're now seeing persistent highs above 30 degrees in Ireland. 45 in France. In Germany, the Rhine is running dry and everywhere heat-related deaths are soaring. Heat-proofing our cities is not optional anymore. With thanks to Professor Mat Santamouris AM and Jessica Holz CPEng RPEQ. 

Richard Francis-Jones and fjcstudio Interview

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Richard Francis-Jones and fjcstudio for the invitation. It is an honour to be part of this event and to contribute to the ongoing dialogue on creating cooler, healthier, and more resilient cities.

In a Warming World, Air Conditioning Is a Necessary Evil. Or Is it?

As carbon emissions push Earth’s average temperature to new heights and usher in unprecedented heat waves, humanity’s reliance on air conditioning is growing. The trouble is, AC consumes massive amounts of energy and—due to the world’s continued reliance on fossil fuels—emits lots of carbon.

Overcoming this feedback loop presents a significant engineering challenge that is becoming increasingly urgent as the world warms. Enter passive cooling: non-mechanical approaches to lowering indoor temperatures.

2026 Newly Elected Members of World Academy of Art and Science

In July, WAAS announced the results of its 2026 elections. Six new Trustees were elected, while two Trustees were re-elected. The Academy also elected 25 new Fellows and six new Associate Fellows, and re-elected one Associate Fellow and seven Junior Fellows.