In the face of climate change, cities are particularly vulnerable to heat waves, which are exacerbated by the urban heat island effect. Traditional building materials (asphalt, concrete, glass) absorb heat and contribute to raising ambient temperatures by several degrees1. Air conditioning, in turn, increases energy demand and exacerbates greenhouse gas emissions.
\n\n\n\nIn this context, so-called “thermoregulatory” materials are emerging as a promising structural solution. Their accelerated development is now being driven by an unexpected factor: artificial intelligence.
\n\n\n\nThermoregulatory materials are designed to reduce heat transfer between the exterior and interior of a building without consuming electricity. They are sometimes inspired by the natural properties of certain living organisms (bio-inspiration) or make use of complex physical phenomena (spectral reflectance, thermal emissivity).
\n\n\n\nRecent innovations include:
\n\n\n\nThese materials are being tested on roofs, walls, and even road surfaces. They promise to lower indoor temperatures by up to 5°C, with a significant impact on comfort and energy consumption.
\n\n\n\nThe development of these complex materials is greatly accelerated by artificial intelligence2. Researchers use machine learning to:
\n\n\n\nDatabases containing thousands of configurations are analyzed by AI, which identifies those that offer the best balance between solar reflection, durability, and architectural integration.
\n\n\n\nThe adoption of these materials could significantly lower urban temperatures, mitigating heat waves and reducing the need for air conditioning. It also leads to a transformation in professional practices:
\n\n\n\nAI is thus becoming an integral part of the construction industry’s value chain, creating a need for new hybrid skills.
\n\n\n\nAs with any technological development driven by AI, several precautions are necessary:
\n\n\n\nIt is also important to ensure that these innovations do not create new inequalities in access to energy efficiency.
\n\n\n\nThe combination of adaptive materials and artificial intelligence opens up ambitious possibilities:
\n\n\n\nThis trend heralds a new generation of cities that are more resilient, energy-efficient, and adaptable, where AI becomes an ally in both energy efficiency and indoor climate comfort4.
\n\n\n\n1. Nature Communications. (2023). A passive cooling paint with superior solar reflectance.
https://www.nature.com/\n
2. MIT News. (2024). How AI is speeding up materials discovery.
\nhttps://news.mit.edu/\n
3. European Commission. (2024). Sustainable Construction and Energy Performance Regulation.
\nhttps://ec.europa.eu/\n
4. Science Advances. (2025). Thermal metamaterials for urban heat mitigation.
\nhttps://www.science.org//\n
In the face of climate change, cities are particularly vulnerable to heat waves, which are exacerbated by the urban heat island effect. Traditional building materials (asphalt, concrete, glass) absorb heat and contribute to raising ambient temperatures by several degrees.
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