Old Technology, Modern 3-D Printing Unite in ‘Cool Bricks’

Old Technology, Modern 3-D Printing Unite in ‘Cool Bricks’
OAKLAND, Calif.—A new technology could facilitate cooling in hot, dry climates. Using basic concepts of evaporation, the “Cool Brick” holds water like a sponge, takes in hot dry air and converts it into cool moist air. The bricks are 3-D-printed with a specially engineered lattice using ceramics, and can be formed into entire walls that could be placed in different rooms of a house or building, reducing the need for air conditioning in hot, dry climates. The technology was developed by Emerging Objects, a company that develops 3-D printing technology. In actuality, the Cool Brick concept is based on an evaporative cooling technology that is believed to date back more than 3,000 years.