{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/e421d786-ec36-4148-aa99-7a3b2928a779/6a8f13cbd8ffec4c41ebcf8f?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Low-energy cooling for a warming planet","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/62e286a934d4d9fe5e874247/1787761572143-85058fcd-fe78-4251-897c-c1dcfa5ffa16.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>In extreme heat, <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/international/2026/07/23/the-geopolitics-of-air-conditioning?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=babbage&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">air-conditioning</a> is a <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&amp;v=EmWhGSXW9J8\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">lifesaver</a>. But it drives up energy bills, strains power grids, and fuels climate change. Is there a way to keep people cool indoors without making the outside world hotter? We explore some innovative engineering solutions.</p><p><br></p><p>Guests and hosts:</p><ul><li><em>The Economist</em>’s Nikita Ostrovsky</li><li>Chris Trott and Saxbourne Cheung of Foster and Partners</li><li>Ahmad Alduweesh and Jiayu Song of University College London</li><li>Alex Hern, <em>The Economist</em>’s AI writer</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Topics covered:</p><ul><li>Air-conditioning</li><li>Passive cooling</li><li>Global warming</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Transcripts of our podcasts are available via <a href=\"http://economist.com/podcasts\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">economist.com/podcasts</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—<a href=\"https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">subscribe to <em>The Economist</em></a>.</p>","author_name":"The Economist"}