This ancient material provides free air conditioning without electricity!

And people are using it in a number of cool ways.

Terracotta has been used across the world from Spain to China for thousands of years, and now modern architects are turning back to it, to help fight the massive energy use and cost of air conditioning.

For example, terracotta roof tiles create cool pockets of air and tiny holes in the material help to circulate that air around the building.

Terracotta facades act as heat barriers, keeping buildings warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Bricks and floor tiles made of terracotta work in much the same way,

And CoolAnt in India have even made a terracotta air conditioner that uses no electricity, which is made of hollow cones that are soaked with water, which then evaporates, cooling down the warm air that the cones draw in.

Another great thing about terracotta is that it’s plentiful around the world, allowing loads of different communities to access it.

At the end of its life, it’s easily broken down and returned to the earth or repurposed, making it a really sustainable material!

(Credit: sambentley)

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