Electricity-Free Cooling Fabrics

i2Cool is expanding electricity-free cooling fabrics with two textile solutions that manage outdoor heat without powered cooling systems or refrigerants. The i2Umbrella Fabric-Hyber combines up to 76% solar reflectivity with up to 96% mid-infrared emissivity, while the heavier i2Tarpaulin reaches up to 85% reflectivity and 95% emissivity. Both materials are designed to limit solar heat absorption while continuously releasing accumulated thermal energy.

The technology extends passive radiative cooling into applications ranging from umbrellas and canopies to greenhouses and membrane structures. In a greenhouse deployment in Xinjiang, i2Cool reports that its tarpaulin reduced internal temperatures by an average of 5.4°C and delivered an estimated 28.7% cooling energy-saving rate. For businesses, integrating cooling directly into fabrics could lower electricity requirements and operating expenses while creating opportunities for manufacturers to incorporate passive thermal management into existing outdoor, agricultural, and commercial products.