This paint could cool your home and harvest water from the air
Researchers at the University of Sydney developed a nanoengineered paint that cools buildings and harvests water from the air, with Dewpoint Innovations testing it in Sydney trials. The paint reflects up to 96% of sunlight, reducing household cooling energy use by up to 34% and collecting 74 liters of water daily from a 200 sqm roof under optimal conditions.
A nanoengineered paint developed by University of Sydney researchers Chiara Neto and Ming Chiu aims to combat rising temperatures and water scarcity by cooling buildings and harvesting atmospheric moisture. Their work led to the 2022 launch of Dewpoint Innovations, which focuses on reimagining urban infrastructure to mitigate climate impacts. The paint uses passive radiative cooling to reflect 96% of sunlight, keeping roof surfaces up to 6°C cooler than ambient air in outdoor trials. In Sydney tests, it reduced household cooling energy use by up to 34% compared to dark roofs, which stayed 30°C hotter. RMIT University’s Baohua Jia noted the potential to curb urban heat islands and lower air conditioning dependence. The coating’s cooler surface also condenses airborne moisture, collecting 74 liters of water daily from a 200 sqm roof in early trials—equivalent to a five-minute shower. Dewpoint CEO Perzaan Mehta emphasized it as a supplemental water source, effective in areas with 70%+ humidity. Field tests confirmed the paint’s dual functionality: reducing heat absorption while enabling water collection. The technology targets cities vulnerable to urban heat islands, offering a scalable climate adaptation tool. Dewpoint Innovations is advancing the solution beyond rooftops to broader infrastructure applications.
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