Urban heat is one of the most urgent public health challenges of our time. By 2050, nearly 970 cities are projected to experience average summer highs above 35°C, placing vulnerable populations—including outdoor workers, older adults, children, and people experiencing homelessness—at heightened risk. Traditional air-conditioned cooling centers are energy-intensive and often underused. KlimaKover is a modular, solar-powered outdoor cooling shelter developed through a cross-sector partnership between private, academic, and public institutions. Funded by the Ramboll Foundation and deployed with the Trust for Governors Island, it serves as a public demonstration of low-energy, off-grid cooling in New York City. The project adapts Membrane-Assisted Radiant Cooling (MARC) technology for outdoor use in hot, humid conditions where conventional radiant systems typically fail due to condensation. Developed with the University of Pennsylvania and building on research from Princeton University, the system is deployed for the first time in a North American public setting. The design makes the science visible. A 4x4-foot modular post-and-beam structure allows for scalability and replication, while exposed components—including solar panels, chillers, and water systems—reveal how cooling is produced without refrigerants or grid dependence. The intent is educational as well as functional. KlimaKover operates entirely off-grid using repurposed solar panels, producing a 40% energy surplus and using up to ten times less energy than conventional air conditioning. It incorporates salvaged, carbon-negative timber and reused solar materials, achieving carbon neutrality within three years. Designed for high-heat urban environments such as transit stops and ferry landings, KlimaKover demonstrates a scalable model for equitable, low-carbon cooling infrastructure. The 2025 installation serves as a proof of concept for citywide deployment.
