The researchers ofOxford University have collaborated side by side with industry experts to develop a smart coating, capable of adapting to the seasonal needs of buildings.
The study is part of the Wearable and Flexible Technologies Collaboration with the aim of improving the quality of the transparent look of the houses.
A promising technology
The new glass features a low-emissivity, spectrum-adjustable coating that uses an active phase change material to control the amount of heat entering the room.
Thanks to the material just mentioned, based on chalcogenide, the glass is able to adapt to internal needs. And, according to initial estimates, it would lead to a energy savings between 20 and 34% compared to conventional double glazed windows.
Adaptability
The thermal energy of the infrared rays of the sun is absorbed by the coating and re-emitted in the form of heat, through a system of transparent electric heaters in the glass substrate, to increase the temperature of the rooms in winter. In the summer months, however, the glass reflects this same energy to keep the rooms cool.
A natural light friendly system
The thermal and optical properties of traditional windows are 'inscribed' in the glass coating as part of the manufacturing process. The use of a more reflective coating, for example, facilitates thermal insulation, but risks compromising the level of natural lighting in the rooms.
The glass developed by the University of Oxford is instead capable of changing state depending on the greater or lesser need for heat, without affecting the amount of incoming light.
A promise for the environment and the economy
Although the road to commercialization of this technology is still long, the results already reveal the validity and potential of the prototype. The hope is that it will prove to be a crucial ally for achieving the objectives, both political and cultural, of energy saving.
Sources: ox.ac.uk, renewable.it
