Toward Human Thermal Comfort: An Adaptive Solar-Radiative Thermoregulator

While adaptive thermoregulators are promising green solutions for buildings, current designs often focus solely on air temperature, neglecting the multifaceted nature of human thermal sensation. Here, we proposed a thermal-comfort-oriented design paradigm that integrates responsiveness to multiple environmental stimuli, including temperature, humidity, and solar irradiance. We demonstrated a proof-of-concept thermoregulator capable of perceiving environmental changes and adjusting its configuration accordingly, offering a stepless thermal regulation potential within a range of 824 W m⁻² (heating) to −114 W m⁻² (cooling). Field tests affirmed that model houses with this intelligent thermoregulator could maintain thermal comfort for up to 6 h with zero energy consumption during the daytime. The device also exhibited exceptional mechanical strength, adhesion properties, and resistance to adverse weather conditions, ensuring its service reliability. Simulations indicate the device can reduce energy consumption by 15%–50% compared to standard roofs while maintaining indoor thermal comfort across different climates worldwide, highlighting the great potential of multi-stimuli-responsive thermoregulators for building thermal management.

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