Keeping it Cool: How Passive and Sustainable Cooling Are Taking on Hotter American Summers

Highlights: 

• Extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard in the United States, and climate change is driving up its frequency and intensity.
• While conventional air conditioning does save lives, it also produces greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbates urban heat, and is inaccessible to many. 
• Passive cooling strategies reduce indoor temperatures without increasing electricity demand.
• Transitioning from high global warming potential refrigerants to low global warming alternatives can significantly reduce cooling-related emissions while maintaining performance.