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The historic drought that parched Brazil over the last two years was not just a water-supply problem – it was also a power problem. The nation's heavy use of hydroelectricity, which had made it a model of renewable energy, contributed to an increased risk of rolling blackouts in some of Brazil's largest cities during severe droughts. Now, Princeton researchers are joining with colleagues at a Brazilian university to help the operator of Brazil's electric grid and the country's major utilities

As the world's climate heats up, buildings in tomorrow's cities will need innovative solutions to keep cool. Channeling streams of water on a building's skin or spraying a water mist around a structure could be unique ways to solve this issue with minimal use of energy. A team of Princeton researchers spanning two engineering departments and architecture is exploring the cooling effect of water on architecture – from small-scale prototypes to full-size structures.