Hong Kong team says new cool white ceramic can reflect nearly all sunlight and cut air-conditioning costs

In Hong Kong, a team of researchers has created a new type of ceramic that is super good at reflecting sunlight. This ceramic can make buildings cooler and help save energy. When this white ceramic is used on roofs, it can make the inside of a house up to 2. 5 degrees Celsius cooler than regular white tiles. This means people could use less air conditioning, saving energy and fighting climate change. nnThe ceramic is inspired by a very white beetle and has a special design that scatters sunlight really well. It's made of a tough material that doesn't get damaged by the sun or fire. The ceramic can also be made in different shapes and colors, and it can clean itself or help put out fires faster. The researchers tested it in various climates and found that it works well in reducing temperatures. nnEdwin Tso, the lead researcher, is getting ready to sell this ceramic through his company next year. He believes that places near the equator will benefit the most from using this ceramic on buildings. His company, i2Cool, has already sold other cooling products to many countries. Edwin and his team are focused on making their products work well in the real world and figuring out the best places to use them.