Scientists in Hong Kong have demonstrated a new ultra-white ceramic material that can drastically cool buildings by reflecting sunlight and heat at record highs. The beetle-inspired material gets its ability from its nanostructure, stays tough to the elements and should be relatively easy to scale…

Ultra-white ceramic cools buildings with record-high 99.6% reflectivity::undefined

  • @KusimulkkuEnglish
    2•6 months ago

    Wetness could pose a problem to the structure

    • @0ddysseus@lemmy.worldEnglish
      7•6 months ago

      Not if you use a waterproof base layer. This isn’t some theoretical thing, its tried and tested technology in common use

      • @KusimulkkuEnglish
        0•6 months ago

        Well of course you’d use waterproof base layer, typically you’d use several even without the plants. It’s tried and tested with multiple cases of failing with age. That’s the issue. Even just flat roofs have been a failure point even without the plants but soil and plants are a definite concern for builders when talking long term.

        • @0ddysseus@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1•6 months ago

          Are you a builder? Do you have any experience installing and maintaining green roofs? Your assertion than you’d typically use several waterproofing layers suggests not. I have experience building these systems in the real world and the documentation to support their use. BTW - flat roofs aren’t a thing. Expect in traditional building in desert areas. “Flat” roofs aren’t flat.

          • @KusimulkkuEnglish
            1•6 months ago

            I’m a construction engineer, though I think that’s just civil engineer in lot of the world.

            BTW - flat roofs aren’t a thing. Expect in traditional building in desert areas. “Flat” roofs aren’t flat.

            I assumed everyone knew what I meant. See some apartment building roofs.