A PolyU startup co-founded by Prof. DAI Jianguo, Management Committee Member of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS), initiated pilot schemes to apply “UmiCool”, a sub-ambient cooling coating developed by the team, to various building structures in Hong Kong and mainland China, hence achieving cooling and energy-saving effects and reducing reliance on air conditioning.
The UmiCool coating uses patented fluorescent cooling technology and can be painted onto the exterior walls of buildings to effectively reduce the indoor temperature. UmiCool absorbs UV radiation present in the sunlight and converts it into infrared radiation for re-emission. The coating’s solar reflectance can reach 97%, and it can lower the indoor temperature by up to 4 degrees Celsius.
The start-up co-founded by Prof. Dai, Umi Coating New Material Technology Co., Limited, collaborated with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and the Home Affairs Department of the HKSAR to conduct pilot projects that applied UmiCool to building structures in Tung Chung and Mui Wo on Lantau Island, and to the rooftops of squatter huts in Pokfulam village, respectively.
This technological innovation was awarded several international patents and won a Gold Medal in the 2022 Geneva Inventions Expo. The startup is planning to establish a sales and production base in Foshan, Guangdong, to expand its business in the Greater Bay Area. In the future, the company will introduce its technology to other regions and encourage the adoption of environmentally friendly and energy-saving coatings.
