Beyond Insulation: The Physics of Passive Radiative Cooling in Cyprus
How Spacecool technology utilizes the "Atmospheric Window" to lower temperatures without electricity.
By Climacore Team Nicosia, Cyprus
In Cyprus, we treat heat as an inevitability. We design our buildings, logistics, and infrastructure to resist the heat, usually through heavy insulation. When that fails, we fight it with mechanical cooling (air conditioning), effectively paying a premium on electricity to battle the sun.
But insulation has a limitation: it only slows down heat transfer. It does not actively cool. And air conditioning has a limitation: it is energy-intensive and dumps waste heat back into the local environment.
At Climacore, we are introducing a third option to the Cypriot market: Passive Radiative Cooling.
This is not a new concept in physics, but thanks to material innovation from Japan, it is now a commercially viable reality. Here is the factual breakdown of how it works and why it matters for the Cypriot economy.
The Concept: The "Atmospheric Window"
To understand Spacecool, you must understand how heat travels. Most heat energy emitted from the Earth is absorbed by the atmosphere (clouds, CO2, water vapor) and reflected back down. This is the greenhouse effect that keeps our planet habitable.
However, there is a specific range of infrared wavelengths—between 8 and 13 micrometers (μm)—that the atmosphere does not block. This is known as the "Atmospheric Window." Heat radiating at this specific frequency can pass through the atmosphere and escape directly into deep space, which sits at a temperature of roughly -270°C.
Spacecool material is engineered to act as a precision optical filter that takes advantage of this window.
How the Technology Works
Spacecool is a high-durability optical film that performs two simultaneous actions that traditional white paint or aluminum foil cannot achieve together effectively:
1. High Solar Reflectance (Blocking Heat) The material reflects roughly 95% of incoming sunlight. This prevents solar energy from being absorbed by the surface in the first place. While high-quality white paint can also reflect sunlight, it often degrades quickly under Cyprus's high UV index. Spacecool is designed for long-term UV resistance.
2. High Sky Emissivity (Releasing Heat) This is the differentiator. The material absorbs heat from the object it is applied to (e.g., a shipping container or a roof) and re-emits that energy at the specific 8-13 μm wavelength. Because it emits heat through the atmospheric window, the heat is not trapped by the air around the building; it is dumped into space.
The Result: Cooling Below Ambient Temperature
Because the material releases heat faster than it absorbs it from the sun, the surface temperature of Spacecool can drop below the ambient air temperature, even under direct sunlight.
This is a zero-energy phenomenon. No compressors, no refrigerants, no electricity.
Why This Matters for Cyprus
Cyprus has one of the highest solar irradiance levels in Europe. For businesses, this translates to:
Thermal Loading: Warehouses and industrial units heat up, forcing AC units to work harder and reducing their lifespan.
Logistics Failures: Goods inside shipping containers or trucks can exceed 60°C, damaging pharmaceuticals, food, or electronics.
Infrastructure Stress: Outdoor electrical cabinets and telecommunications equipment degrade faster when internal temperatures rise.
By applying Spacecool, we are not just insulating; we are creating a passive heat rejection system. This reduces the cooling load on air conditioning systems (lowering OPEX) and protects assets in off-grid or outdoor environments where active cooling is impossible.
Conclusion
At Climacore, we believe that fighting the Cypriot climate with electricity alone is no longer the only option. By leveraging the physics of radiative cooling, we can work with the environment rather than against it.
We invite engineers, architects, and fleet managers to review the technical data and pilot results available on our website.
