Northumbria University
Cooling the World Without Heating the Planet
Finalist, Research with Impact - Institution
Finalist, Research with Impact
About
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S2Cool (Super-efficient Sustainable Cooling Solution for All Applications) is a £2.8 million UKRI Ayrton Challenge Fund project led by Northumbria University to address one of the world's most pressing climate adaptation challenges: sustainable cooling. Bringing together 26 partners from academia, industry, government and civil society across the UK and Pakistan, the project is developing affordable, low-carbon cooling solutions for climate-vulnerable communities. S2Cool has demonstrated cooling technologies capable of reducing energy consumption by up to 65% while lowering costs and improving access to thermal comfort. The project combines cutting-edge research, community engagement, policy influence and capacity building to deliver measurable environmental, social and economic impact. With the potential to save 37.7 TWh of electricity and avoid 23 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions over ten years, S2Cool is helping to achieve its vision of "Cooling the World Without Heating the Planet." |
Top 3 learnings
1. We learned that co-created research delivers faster adoption and greater societal impact.
2. We learned that sustainable cooling is a powerful enabler of climate resilience and equity.
3. We learned that global partnerships transform research excellence into real-world change.
SDGs
13- Climate action
What it means to win
Winning a Green Gown Award would recognise Northumbria University's global leadership in research with impact. It would celebrate how world-class research can deliver tangible environmental, social and economic benefits, strengthen international partnerships, inspire future innovation, and reinforce our commitment to creating sustainable solutions that improve lives and communities worldwide.
| 2026 | |
| Research with Impact - Institution | |
| Finalist, UK and Ireland |
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Green Gown Award Regions
Australasia
