One of the most effective passive cooling strategies is the use of thermal mass . Materials such as stone, adobe, and concrete have a high specific heat capacity, meaning they absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night when temperatures drop. In the ancient city of Yazd in central Iran, buildings constructed from thick mud-brick remain cool during scorching summer days. Similarly, the stepwells of India — deep, multi-storey structures carved into the earth — maintain consistently low temperatures because the surrounding ground acts as an enormous heat sink.
Staying Cool Naturally A. For thousands of years, before the invention of air conditioning, human civilisations developed ingenious methods to keep buildings cool in hot climates. These ancient techniques, which rely on natural principles such as convection, evaporation, and thermal mass, are now being rediscovered by architects and engineers seeking sustainable alternatives to energy-intensive cooling systems. With global temperatures rising and air conditioning accounting for nearly 10% of global electricity consumption, the wisdom of the past offers a timely solution. Staying Cool Naturally Ielts Reading Answers
More surprising is the use of radiative cooling , a principle that has only recently gained scientific attention but has been used intuitively for centuries. Certain whitewashed buildings in the Greek islands are not merely aesthetic; the lime-based paint reflects up to 80% of solar radiation. At night, the same surfaces radiate heat back to the cold sky, a phenomenon known as ‘night-sky radiation’. In 2017, researchers at Stanford University developed a ultra-white paint that reflects 98% of sunlight, potentially paving the way for zero-energy cooling. The oldest example of radiative cooling, however, may be the ancient Egyptians, who soaked mats in water and hung them in windows; as water evaporated, it cooled the incoming air, but the effect was enhanced by the clear night sky radiating heat away. One of the most effective passive cooling strategies