Dr. Jianheng CHEN

School of Pipeline and Civil Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, China

E-mail: jianheng.chen@upc.edu.cn

Bio

Dr. Jianheng Chen is a Special-Term Professor at China University of Petroleum (East China). He earned his Ph.D. from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2021, followed by postdoctoral research at both The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and City University of Hong Kong. In 2025, Dr. Chen joined the faculty of China University of Petroleum (East China). Dr. Chen's research primarily centers on radiative sky cooling technologies, aiming to enable ultra-low-energy buildings and facilities in support of carbon neutrality. He has published over 40 SCI-indexed journal papers and received several prestigious honors, including the ASET International Best Paper Award and the Clarivate Analytics ESI Highly Cited Paper Award. In addition to his research achievements, Dr. Chen serves on the editorial board of the SCI journal Sustainability and acts as guest editor for several journals, including Advances in Applied Energy, Buildings, and Energies.

Title

Radiative Sky Cooling: Advances, Applications, and Multiscale Impact Assessment

Abstract

Radiative sky cooling is a passive thermal management process in which terrestrial surfaces dissipate heat to outer space via thermal infrared radiation. By designing materials with high solar reflectance and strong thermal emittance, especially within the atmospheric transparency window, radiative cooling effectiveness can be significantly enhanced. Unlike conventional, energy-intensive cooling systems, radiative sky cooling operates without electricity, enabling sustainable temperature reduction. Recent breakthroughs in the scalable manufacturing of cost-effective radiative cooling materials have paved the way for their widespread application. This keynote will present the principles and advancements in radiative sky cooling, covering building-integrated cooling solutions, eco-friendly high-performance materials, and comprehensive multiscale evaluations of their deployment. At the building scale, the radiative sky cooling-based super-cool roof strategy will be introduced and the holistic strategies that combine advanced roofing strategies, colored cooling walls, and thermally responsive windows will be discussed to optimize overall envelope performance. To drive industry-wide adoption, our research also addresses policy integration, advocating for the incorporation of radiative sky cooling into building energy codes and standards to promote innovation and energy efficiency at the regulatory level. At the national scale, we have developed a spatiotemporal assessment framework for radiative cooling resources, supporting strategic implementation across China. Collectively, these efforts demonstrate the transformative potential of radiative sky cooling, from materials innovation to policy and large-scale deployment.