Passive cooling — the practice of using non-mechanical technology, design elements, and/or nature-based solutions to keep a space cool without using energy — is a key component in addressing the challenge of providing equitable access to cooling while reducing the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. It’s relatively inexpensive compared to active solutions and is broadly applicable to a wide variety of buildings and communities. Philanthropy has an important role to play in scaling up the adoption of passive cooling solutions, in order to realize its fullest potential with regards to emissions reductions, improved health, and economic development.

This brief frames passive cooling within the broader context of climate-friendly cooling; summarizes the environmental, economic, and health benefits of passive cooling; provides case studies for passive cooling at the building, city, national, and global level; addresses barriers to scaling passive cooling; and provides recommendations on how philanthropy can advance the sector.