Graz University of Technology develops electricity-free ceramic cooling

Researchers at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) in Austria have developed a 3D-printed ceramic cooling system designed to lower room temperatures without the use of electricity, compressors, or refrigerants. The system utilizes porous ceramic cubes that employ evaporative cooling, a process where water transitions from liquid to vapor to absorb heat from the surrounding environment.

In field tests, a single water-filled cube was able to lower the immediate air temperature by nearly 7°C. This innovation comes as the International Energy Agency reports a surge in global electricity demand for air conditioning, noting that building electricity consumption rose by over 600 terawatt-hours in 2024, accounting for nearly 60% of total global electricity growth.