A new metamaterial developed by a team of engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder has the ability to passively cool objects, even under direct sunlight.
The new material is a glass-polymer hybrid that measures 50 micrometers thick and reflects incoming solar energy while simultaneously allowing the surface it is applied to shed heat in the form of infrared thermal radiation, CU Boulder Today reports.
In order to accomplish the dual tasks of reflecting solar energy while also allowing infrared radiation to escape, the engineers embedded visibly-scattering but infrared-radiant glass microspheres into a polymer film. A thin silver coating was added underneath to achieve maximum spectral reflectance.
One of the researchers said through the addition of 10 to 20 sm of the material to a single-family rooftop, the house can be significantly cooled down in the summer. Because the metamaterial can be produced economically on rolls, applications can range from small single-family homes to large commercial projects.
Additionally, the glass-polymer hybrid can be used to improve the efficiency and lifetime of solar panels by preventing them from overheating, which reduces the ability to convert solar rays into electricity.
The next step for the researchers is to create a 200-sm “cooling farm” prototype this year while they wait to hear back regarding a patent.
Â
Click here to read the original article and for images of the new material.
Related Stories
| Jan 3, 2012
New SJI Rule on Steel Joists
A new rule from the Steel Joist Institute clarifies when local reinforcement of joists is required for chord loads away from panel points. SJI members offer guidance about how and when to specify loads.
| Jan 3, 2012
AIA Course: New Developments in Concrete Construction
Earn 1.0 AIA/CES learning units by studying this article and successfully completing the online exam.
| Dec 27, 2011
Ground broken for adaptive reuse project
Located on the Garden State Parkway, the master-planned project initially includes the conversion of a 114-year-old, 365,000-square-foot, six-story warehouse building into 361 loft-style apartments, and the creation of a three-level parking facility.
| Dec 27, 2011
Nova completes $60M Clearwater Conference Center
Comprising an entire city block, the 450,000 sq. ft. facility features over 400 meeting rooms, six theaters, a full-service health spa, complete with an indoor running track, and a commercial kitchen that can efficiently accommodate over 1,000 diners
| Dec 27, 2011
Suffolk Construction celebrates raising of Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum cupola
Topping off ceremony held on 238th Anniversary of Boston Tea Party.
| Dec 27, 2011
USGBC’s Center for Green Schools releases Best of Green Schools 2011
Recipient schools and regions from across the nation - from K-12 to higher education - were recognized for a variety of sustainable, cost-cutting measures, including energy conservation, record numbers of LEED certified buildings and collaborative platforms and policies to green U.S. school infrastructure.
| Dec 20, 2011
BCA’s Best Practices in New Construction available online
This publicly available document is applicable to most building types and distills the long list of guidelines, and longer list of tasks, into easy-to-navigate activities that represent the ideal commissioning process.
| Dec 20, 2011
Aragon Construction leading build-out of foursquare office
The modern, minimalist build-out will have elements of the foursquare “badges” in different aspects of the space, using glass, steel, and vibrantly painted gypsum board.
| Dec 19, 2011
HGA renovates Rowing Center at Cornell University
Renovation provides state-of-the-art waterfront facility.
| Dec 19, 2011
Chicago’s Aqua Tower wins international design award
Aqua was named both regional and international winner of the International Property Award as Best Residential High-Rise Development.
