An empirical analysis of the impact of weather conditions on radiative cooling efficiency in buildings

Radiative cooling (RC) technology offers a promising solution for reducing building cooling loads, yet its performance under diverse climatic conditions has not been well explored. This study provides an empirical evaluation of RC coatings applied to buildings in Ningbo, China, focusing on the influence of local weather conditions. A comparison between buildings with RC and conventional coatings revealed a significant seasonal reduction in indoor temperature. Energy tests showed a 23% reduction in cooling energy use during summer, but a 13% increase in heating demand during winter. Regression analysis identified solar radiation, ambient temperature, and relative humidity (RH) as key influencing factors. Solar radiation showed the strongest positive correlation (r = 0.74 to 0.87), followed by ambient temperature (r = 0.72 to 0.77), while RH was negatively correlated (r = −0.65 to −0.67). These results highlight the seasonal sensitivity of RC coatings and the need for climate-specific deployment strategies.