Air-conditioning systems gobble up about 6 percent of the electricity generated in America, raising emissions of greenhouse gasses in the form of carbon dioxide from burning power-station fuel. Not only that, but the refrigerants used in air-conditioning systems are also detrimental to the Earth. Two researchers may have found a possible alternative to wasteful air-conditioners. They have invented a film that can cool buildings without the use of refrigerants and without drawing any power to do so. The researchers estimate that if you placed 20 square meters of their film atop an average American house, it would be enough to keep the internal temperature at 20°C on a day when it was 37°C outside. Best of all, the film only costs around 50 cents a square meter.