Tianzhen Hong

Oct 27, 2024 | nature.com | Wei Wang |Zhe Wang |Qinran Hu |Tianzhen Hong

The beautification of urban facades in China often includes covers for the outdoor units of air conditioners. Although these covers improve cityscapes, they reduce cooling efficiency, increase noise pollution, risk system failures and embody carbon emissions. A call urges rethinking their necessity, and presses for sustainable, efficient design to counteract extreme heat.