Zero-Energy Radiative Cooling Material “SPACECOOL” Wins Japan Energy Conservation Grand Prize ― A new carbon-neutral technology reducing air-conditioning energy use and CO₂ emissions in buildings and outdoor infrastructure－
SPACECOOL INC. announces that its radiative cooling material “SPACECOOL,” which the Company develops, manufactures, and markets, has been awarded the FY2025 Energy Conservation Grand Prize, organized by The Energy Conservation Center, Japan.
Energy Conservation Grand Prize is an award program established to promote decarbonization awareness across Japan and to contribute to the realization of an energy-efficient, carbon-neutral society. The program recognizes outstanding products and exemplary initiatives that demonstrate superior performance in energy conservation and CO₂ reduction. Evaluations are conducted based on criteria including development process, technological advancement and originality, energy-saving performance, environmental protection and resource efficiency (including recyclability), as well as marketability, economic viability, and safety.
Energy Conservation Grand Prize website: https://www.eccj.or.jp/bigaward/item.html
In recent years, accelerating global warming has led to rising temperatures in buildings and outdoor infrastructure. As a result, cooling demand has increased, driving higher air-conditioning energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. At the same time, revisions to occupational safety regulations have made heat-stress countermeasures mandatory for workers, creating practical limitations on reducing air-conditioning usage.
Against this backdrop, the Company’s radiative cooling material “SPACECOOL” has gained attention as a new carbon-neutral technology. When applied to building roofs and outdoor infrastructure exposed to direct sunlight, SPACECOOL suppresses temperature increases inside buildings and equipment without using any external power. By enabling zero-energy cooling, it contributes to reductions in air-conditioning energy consumption.
This award is considered to recognize not only SPACECOOL’s energy-saving performance, but also its durability and successful mass production, which facilitate widespread market adoption.
Through this award, SPACECOOL INC. will further accelerate the social implementation of SPACECOOL, aiming to reduce air-conditioning energy consumption and CO₂ emissions across outdoor assets, including buildings and air-conditioning outdoor units.
About the Radiative Cooling Material “SPACECOOL”
Under direct sunlight, “SPACECOOL” not only blocks solar heat and suppresses heat absorption, but also releases heat to outer space as infrared radiation within the wavelength range of the so-called atmospheric window (*). This enables temperatures to be reduced below the ambient air temperature with zero energy, achieving one of the world’s highest levels of radiative cooling performance.
When applied to buildings, outdoor infrastructure, and even to people, animals, and plants, SPACECOOL contributes to both climate change adaptation and mitigation by reducing air-conditioning energy consumption, enhancing equipment stability, and improving working environments and productivity.
About SPACECOOL INC.
Founded in April 2021, SPACECOOL INC. is a Japan-based climate tech startup. The company develops and markets SPACECOOL, a radiative cooling material that leverages the natural phenomenon of radiative cooling to enable zero-energy daytime cooling—something conventional technologies could not achieve.
By applying SPACECOOL to buildings, outdoor infrastructure, as well as people, animals, and plants, the technology reduces energy demand and CO₂ emissions, alleviates heat stress, and enhances productivity. With these benefits, SPACECOOL aims to become a game-changer in the fight against global warming.
Company Website: https://spacecool.jp/en/
(*) Light has wavelengths that vary in their ability to pass through the atmosphere—some have high transmittance, while others are easily absorbed by the atmosphere. To transport heat into space in the form of light energy, wavelengths with high atmospheric transmittance are ideal. Among these, the 8–13μm wavelength range is particularly transmissive and is referred to as the “atmospheric window.”
＊“SPACECOOL” is a registered trademark.
