As global temperatures rise, developers are revisiting ancient cooling methods that are energy-efficient and cost-effective. 

Notable among these are green roofs and solar chimneys. Green roofs, used since ancient Mesopotamia, are covered with lightweight soil and native plants that help insulate buildings and support biodiversity.

They can significantly reduce cooling costs and cities like New York and Chicago provide tax incentives for their installation. 

Solar chimneys, utilised in the Middle East, work by drawing in cool air as hot air rises through a dark shaft. These methods offer sustainable solutions amid rising carbon emissions from modern air conditioning, which accounted for 3% of global pollution in 2022.