Radiative thermal management material for net-zero buildings

Buildings account for approximately 30% of global primary energy consumption, with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems serving as the major contributors. Enhancing the energy efficiency of buildings has therefore become an urgent priority. Beyond conventional technologies, regulating thermal radiation through building envelopes has emerged as a promising approach to reducing energy. In response, a variety of innovative radiative thermal management materials, including passive and dynamic ones, have been developed. This perspective reviews recent advances in state-of-the-art radiative thermal management materials, including radiative cooling materials, low-emissivity materials, and dynamically tunable radiative materials, with a focus on their application to building walls, roofs, and windows. Furthermore, we summarize the prospects of these materials to enable energy-efficient and net-zero buildings and highlight the key challenges and opportunities for future research and development.