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HKei t1_iv9bvgw wrote

Reply to comment by HardCounter in Researchers designed a transparent window coating that could lower the temperature inside buildings, without expending a single watt of energy. This cooler may lead to an annual energy saving of up to 86.3 MJ/m² or 24 kWh/m² in hot climates by mossadnik

> Wouldn't a warmer temperature outside naturally lead to a warmer temperature inside given enough time?

sort of? It's a question of how much is "enough" time. Good insulation can keep a noticeable temperature difference without active cooling or heating for a very long time. In addition, temperatures outside don't stay at peak forever. For instance, if temperatures outside can hit peaks of 50°C but temperatures inside never go over 30°C that's huge win even if you'd like it a bit cooler still. With clever engineering you can reach much more extreme temperature differences using only passive cooling and insulation, but not without making sacrifices to aesthetics and on other fronts.

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