So.cool: the air conditioner with no outdoor unit that plugs in like a lamp, no construction or drilling required!
Social Cooling’s So.cool is a modular air conditioner with no outdoor unit and no drilling, the one we’ve all been waiting for!
You’re familiar with air conditioning. But if you’re a renter, it’s hard to get one installed. And even if you’re a homeowner, it’s not always easy to get permission to drill into the building’s facade and ruin its appearance by installing an outdoor compressor. Plus, you usually have to call in a technician, schedule an appointment, and it’s a long, tedious process. But that… was then! Because the Austrian startup Social Cooling has just launched So.Cool, an air conditioner with no outdoor unit or exhaust pipe that plugs into the wall just like a regular refrigerator.
So.Cool works on a plug-and-play basis: no outdoor unit, no exhaust pipe, no construction work. You set it up, plug it into a standard outlet, and the magic happens. It’s that simple, it cools the room, and it feels like a small revolution.
The design follows a modular approach. Each module measures 60 cm high, 100 cm wide, and 60 cm deep. You can stack up to three vertically, or line two side by side to reach 200 cm wide and 140 cm high. The basic configuration resembles a well-proportioned storage unit. Nothing like the look of a traditional wall-mounted split system. Of course, for a living room, a single module is perfectly sufficient. But if you want to cool larger spaces, you can easily stack as many modules as needed.
The So.cool incorporates patented thermal retention capsules. The principle: during the day, when the room is occupied, the unit lowers the temperature and stores excess heat in its internal accumulator. In the evening, once the room is empty, it releases this energy under favorable thermal conditions. The next morning, it starts over from scratch. No noisy outdoor compressor, no heat exchange with outside air.
The cooling capacity reaches 3.5 kW, or 12,000 BTU. That’s enough to comfortably cover between 15 and 35 square meters, and up to 50 square meters depending on the room’s thermal configuration. One module provides between 3 and 6 hours of continuous cooling. Installing two dual modules? That extends the runtime to 6–12 hours.
The noise level is limited to 39 dB(A). That’s quite low; for comparison, a normal conversation is around 60 dB and a quiet dishwasher is 45 dB.
The delayed operation of the thermal flows promises a 40% reduction in energy consumption compared to conventional air conditioners on the market. The unit simultaneously manages dehumidification and air filtration. This is undoubtedly an additional selling point.
This type of approach also addresses an increasingly restrictive regulatory environment. In all countries, condominium associations often block the installation of outdoor units for aesthetic reasons or due to condominium bylaws. The So.cool circumvents the problem at its source because, without an outdoor unit, there is nothing to approve at a general meeting.
Social Cooling primarily targets offices, schools, and public spaces. But the So.cool’s modular design also appeals to homeowners, particularly those living in Haussmann-style apartments, upper-floor studios, or rental units where altering the walls is prohibited.
Modularity also allows capacity to be adapted to the room. One module for a bedroom, two modules for a living room open to the kitchen. You can adjust it to your needs without over-equipping.
The air conditioner So.cool is available for pre-order until June 1, 2026, at a price of €3,120 (instead of €3,900). Deliveries and large-scale commercial rollout are scheduled for 2027.
It’s an investment, of course. But compared to the cost of a traditional setup, air conditioner, installation, drilling work, and sometimes condominium association approval, the price gap narrows quickly. And above all, the So.cool is portable. If you move, it goes with you. That’s not the least of its selling points.
The issue of air conditioning is often the last to be addressed in an interior design project. It comes at the very end, out of necessity, and sometimes ruins carefully planned walls. The So.cool integrates differently. Its standardized dimensions, 60 × 100 cm per module, are unobtrusive, and it’s easy to decide to move it, just like a piece of furniture if you reorganize your space. After all, all you need is a simple power outlet!
And even though it’s still a commercial prototype, and it won’t hit the market until 2027 (if you don’t want to pre-order it, just wait until next summer), its arrival on the market is imminent, and it’s quite a discovery, isn’t it? To check it out on the Social Cooling website, click this link!
And to see the video demonstration, click here!
A device you just plug in, that’s it!
So.Cool works on a plug-and-play basis: no outdoor unit, no exhaust pipe, no construction work. You set it up, plug it into a standard outlet, and the magic happens. It’s that simple, it cools the room, and it feels like a small revolution.
The design follows a modular approach. Each module measures 60 cm high, 100 cm wide, and 60 cm deep. You can stack up to three vertically, or line two side by side to reach 200 cm wide and 140 cm high. The basic configuration resembles a well-proportioned storage unit. Nothing like the look of a traditional wall-mounted split system. Of course, for a living room, a single module is perfectly sufficient. But if you want to cool larger spaces, you can easily stack as many modules as needed.
What technology makes all this possible?
The So.cool incorporates patented thermal retention capsules. The principle: during the day, when the room is occupied, the unit lowers the temperature and stores excess heat in its internal accumulator. In the evening, once the room is empty, it releases this energy under favorable thermal conditions. The next morning, it starts over from scratch. No noisy outdoor compressor, no heat exchange with outside air.
The cooling capacity reaches 3.5 kW, or 12,000 BTU. That’s enough to comfortably cover between 15 and 35 square meters, and up to 50 square meters depending on the room’s thermal configuration. One module provides between 3 and 6 hours of continuous cooling. Installing two dual modules? That extends the runtime to 6–12 hours.
The noise level is limited to 39 dB(A). That’s quite low; for comparison, a normal conversation is around 60 dB and a quiet dishwasher is 45 dB.
A 40% energy savings
The delayed operation of the thermal flows promises a 40% reduction in energy consumption compared to conventional air conditioners on the market. The unit simultaneously manages dehumidification and air filtration. This is undoubtedly an additional selling point.
This type of approach also addresses an increasingly restrictive regulatory environment. In all countries, condominium associations often block the installation of outdoor units for aesthetic reasons or due to condominium bylaws. The So.cool circumvents the problem at its source because, without an outdoor unit, there is nothing to approve at a general meeting.
For which spaces?
Social Cooling primarily targets offices, schools, and public spaces. But the So.cool’s modular design also appeals to homeowners, particularly those living in Haussmann-style apartments, upper-floor studios, or rental units where altering the walls is prohibited.
Modularity also allows capacity to be adapted to the room. One module for a bedroom, two modules for a living room open to the kitchen. You can adjust it to your needs without over-equipping.
Price and availability
The air conditioner So.cool is available for pre-order until June 1, 2026, at a price of €3,120 (instead of €3,900). Deliveries and large-scale commercial rollout are scheduled for 2027.
It’s an investment, of course. But compared to the cost of a traditional setup, air conditioner, installation, drilling work, and sometimes condominium association approval, the price gap narrows quickly. And above all, the So.cool is portable. If you move, it goes with you. That’s not the least of its selling points.
What it changes for interior design
The issue of air conditioning is often the last to be addressed in an interior design project. It comes at the very end, out of necessity, and sometimes ruins carefully planned walls. The So.cool integrates differently. Its standardized dimensions, 60 × 100 cm per module, are unobtrusive, and it’s easy to decide to move it, just like a piece of furniture if you reorganize your space. After all, all you need is a simple power outlet!
And even though it’s still a commercial prototype, and it won’t hit the market until 2027 (if you don’t want to pre-order it, just wait until next summer), its arrival on the market is imminent, and it’s quite a discovery, isn’t it? To check it out on the Social Cooling website, click this link!
And to see the video demonstration, click here!
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