In an exclusive interview with Sing Tao Headline, Professor Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation), and Ir Professor Vivien Lu Lin from the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, discussed PolyU’s roadmap and action plans to support Hong Kong’s goal of reaching carbon neutrality. A key aspect is translating research excellence into real-world applications, exemplified by an innovative green, solar-driven adaptive radiative cooling (SARC) coating designed to promote energy saving in buildings.

As the global community addresses climate change and rising carbon emissions, PolyU is committed to advancing carbon neutrality through education, research, and policy studies. Professor Chao emphasised that PolyU’s Campus Carbon Neutrality Committee, established in 2022, strategises policy, monitors action plans and sets short- and medium-term goals for 2028 and 2033, with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To support research and mitigate carbon emissions, PolyU has received over HK$30 million from the Green Tech Fund for innovative projects, including the innovative SARC coating. Demonstrating the University’s determination to serve as a testbed for the practical implementation of new technologies, the coating will be trialled at the PolyU student hostel in Kowloon Tong.

Driven by a matrix of carbon dots, the photoluminescent radiative cooling nanocoating developed by Professor Lu and her research team can be applied to building rooftops and exterior walls. It automatically adjusts its thermal properties to mitigate the heat island effect from buildings, which is a major source of carbon emissions. “This technology boosts daytime solar reflectance from 92.5% to 95%, achieving a cooling effect 10% to 20% greater than traditional coatings, with temperature reductions on concrete surfaces of up to 25°C,” Professor Lu said.

Made from eco-friendly, non-toxic, water-soluble materials, this green coating is available in various colours for flexible application on rooftops and facades. Additionally, when integrated with bifacial solar photovoltaic panels, the coating boosts solar efficiency and electricity generation by 30% to 50%, while carbon emissions are reduced by 30%. The research team will collect real-time data through a monitoring system for future analysis and evaluation, supporting teaching, research, and practical applications.

Through efforts like these, PolyU remains committed to achieving carbon neutrality on campus and promoting green technologies to the wider community, and fostering a sustainable living environment for the future.

Learn more about the insights from Professor Chao and Professor Lu: Sing Tao Headline