Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

Beginning in 2012 at Stanford University, SkyCool Systems‚ founding team began researching ways to enable radiative sky cooling during the day and use the effect to improve the efficiency of cooling systems. In 2014, the first results demonstrating this effect were published in Nature, showing that specialized optical surfaces could passively cool up to 20 degrees F below air temperature, even under direct sunlight. Testing of our surfaces demonstrated the ability of this approach to passively cool fluids below the ambient air temperature. SkyCool Systems was formed early in 2016, and has since completed numerous demonstrations to advance radiative cooling technology.

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Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

SkyCool‚ innovation is designed to be a simple, low-cost solution that reduces electricity bills associated with cooling systems found across the world. Broadly, the company‚ solution can be applied in other applications of air conditioning and refrigeration. By reducing operating costs for cooling, the savings can be passed on to end-customers. This could improve the viability of small grocery stores in low income communities at risk of becoming ‚ food deserts.‚ 
SkyCool is deeply committed to a vision of renewable energy that improves the livelihood of low income communities. By reducing electricity costs for cooling, the proposed system will benefit all Californians, including low-income individuals that are particularly sensitive to high electricity prices during the hot summer months. 
As SkyCool grows its team, the company is actively looking to have a gender-balanced organization. Over the previous summer, the company hosted 2 female undergraduate engineering interns from Stanford and Caltech.

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