SPACECOOL and Ritsumeikan University to Announce Joint Research Results on Building Energy Efficiency – Visualizing the Practical Application of Radiative Cooling Materials in Buildings –
SPACECOOL INC. is pleased to announce the upcoming publication of joint research results on the impact of radiative cooling materials on building energy efficiency, conducted in collaboration with Professor Tomoyuki Chikamoto (Professor, Department of Architecture and Urban Design, College of Science and Engineering; Director, Ritsumeikan Center for Sustainability Science) and Associate Professor Myonghyang Lee of Ritsumeikan University.
This research evaluates the effectiveness of applying radiative cooling materials in forms such as waterproof sheets (*1) and roof shades (*2) on building roofs and rooftops. The study also includes an analysis of the implementation at the “Gas Pavilion” during Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
Until now, SPACECOOL INC. has been conducting joint research with Professor Tomoyuki Chikamoto and Associate Professor Myonghyang Lee of the Department of Architecture and Urban Design, College of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, to scientifically visualize the energy-saving benefits of buildings. Through simulations based on a standard building model, the research has demonstrated that applying radiative cooling materials to roofs can result in energy savings. The findings of this research will be presented on September 10 at the “2025 Annual Meeting of the Architectural Institute of Japan (Kyushu),” to be held at Kyushu University from September 9 to 12, 2025, as part of an organized session.
Going forward, SPACECOOL will keep testing and evaluating the performance of radiative cooling materials in different building types, including membrane structures like the Gas Pavilion at Expo 2025.
Through these initiatives, SPACECOOL aims to scientifically visualize the effects of radiative cooling materials, share knowledge across academia, industry, and society, and contribute to the broader adoption of sustainable cooling technologies in the building sector.
| (*1) | Refers to a waterproofing sheet integrated with the radiative cooling material “SPACECOOL,” manufactured and sold by Lonseal Corporation. |
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| (*2) | Refers to a sheet installation method for standing seam roofs, developed by NIHON WIDECLOTH Co., Ltd. |
– Profile of Professor Tomoyuki Chikamoto
Completed the doctoral program in the Department of Architecture, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, in 1994.
His research focuses on architectural and urban environmental engineering, building equipment systems, and symbiosis with the environment. He works on designing buildings, cities, and districts that harmonize with the environment, elucidating human comfort and physiological phenomena, and advancing research toward building a decarbonized society.
– Profile of Associate Professor Myonghyang Lee
Completed the doctoral program in the Department of Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, in 2014.
Her research focuses on environmentally conscious architecture and the proposal of healthy and comfortable living spaces. Her work includes exploring ways to utilize natural energy and functional building materials, and developing environmental control systems based on human comfort, with studies spanning energy efficiency, comfort, health, and durability in architecture.
– Reference Press Release
Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation Begins Demonstration Test of Waterproof Sheets Using the Radiative Cooling Material “SPACECOOL”
https://spacecool.jp/en/news/20240501/
