Membrane-assisted radiant cooling for expanding thermal comfort zones globally without air conditioning

Significance In this paper, we present results from a radiant cooling pavilion, demonstrating a method of cooling people without cooling the air. Instead, surfaces are chilled, and thermal radiation is used to keep people cool. A thermally transparent membrane is used to prevent unwanted air cooling and condensation, a required precursor to deploying radiant cooling panels without humidity control in tropical environments. The results from this thermal-comfort study demonstrate the ability to keep people comfortable with radiation in warm air, a paradigm-shifting approach to thermal comfort that may help curb global cooling-demand projections.