A typical modern automobile compressor-driven air conditioner, about powerful
enough to cool a house, may not be needed even in very hot, humid climates if we
combine insights from comfort theory with innovations in comfort delivery,
photonics, and superefficient thermal and air-handling devices. Recent advances
can successively minimize unwanted heat gain into the passenger cabin, cool
people’s bodies rather than the vehicle, deliver highly effective radiant
cooling, passively reject extracted heat to the sky, and, if needed, move air
very efficiently and quietly to expand the human comfort range. Together these
proven innovations may give automotive occupants excellent hot-weather comfort
without refrigerative air conditioning. This substitution could improve climate
protection and electric-vehicle range, cut the automobile’s weight and cost,
avoid climate and ozone harm from refrigerants, reduce noise and air pollution,
make autos more energy-efficient, and save the United States gasoline costing
many billions of dollars per year. Prompt experimental tests of such integrative
designs are warranted.
