Passive cooling for circular economy: Building materials and design solutions

The growing demand for space cooling, driven by rising global temperatures and increased economic development, poses significant environmental challenges, particularly due to the high energy consumption and emissions associated with conventional cooling systems. In response, passive cooling strategies, which reduce or eliminate the need for active cooling, have emerged as critical solutions within the framework of the circular economy (CE) concept. This review categorises passive cooling approaches into two main strategies: (1) reducing active cooling demand through innovative building materials and (2) reducing active cooling demand through architectural design. By aligning with the first “R” in the CE 10R framework—refuse—these strategies contribute to the ongoing efforts to transition the cooling industry toward circularity. This review synthesises theoretical research and experimental findings, highlighting the environmental and economic benefits of passive cooling methods. However, it also acknowledges the limitations of these approaches, including the challenges in widespread application and the need for further empirical studies. This work contributes to the broader discourse on reducing energy consumption in space cooling and supports the development of sustainable, circular cooling systems.