Cooling communities.
Building climate resilience.
TerraCool Hubs develops affordable, sustainable cooling infrastructure using terracotta-based evaporative cooling technology to address heat inequality in vulnerable communities.
The Crisis
Heat inequality: the climate crisis few are talking about
As global temperatures rise, cooling is becoming a necessity rather than a luxury — yet access remains deeply unequal.
Why cooling access fails communities
- High AC purchase and operational costs
- Energy infrastructure limitations in rural areas
- Rising electricity prices outpacing income growth
- Environmental consequences of refrigerant-based cooling
- Inadequate urban planning for heat resilience
Education
Heat impairs learning outcomes in poorly cooled schools
Health
Heat stress causes preventable illness and mortality
Productivity
Economic output drops significantly during heat waves
Public Safety
Vulnerable populations face life-threatening exposure
Impact Dashboard
Projected temp. rise by 2050
People exposed to heat stress
Our Approach
Rethinking cooling through nature
TerraCool systems apply evaporative cooling, materials science, and sustainable engineering — replacing energy-intensive compressors with the physics of water and clay.
Evaporative Physics
Leveraging the natural latent heat absorption during water evaporation through engineered porous terracotta structures.
Materials Science
Optimized clay composition, porosity ratios, and capillary water transport for maximum cooling efficiency.
Thermal Engineering
Airflow geometry and surface area optimization designed through fluid dynamics principles.
Smart Integration
Arduino-based sensor networks for automated moisture regulation and performance monitoring.
How TerraCool works
Simplified airflow and evaporation model
Hot air enters intake
Passes through terracotta
Water evaporates from pores
Latent heat is absorbed
Air temperature drops 5-7°C
Cooled air distributed
Global Goals
Aligned with global sustainability goals
TerraCool Hubs directly contributes to five United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
SDG 7: Clean Energy
Low-power cooling with minimal grid dependency
SDG 9: Innovation
Engineering-driven climate solutions
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities
Cooling infrastructure for urban resilience
SDG 12: Responsible Production
Biodegradable, locally sourced materials
SDG 13: Climate Action
Zero refrigerant, zero emission cooling
The Team
Meet the researchers
Shrihan Reddy Pakala
Founder
Innovation & Engineering
Raghav Palla
Co-Head of Initiative
Design & Structure
Sanjith Chellamuthu
Co-Head of Initiative
Community Impact