‘Chameleon-Like’ Material Changes Color To Regulate Heat In Buildings

“Chameleon-like” buildings that adapt for warmth or for cooling could one day join cityscapes. A new study delves into the possibility of creating materials that can shift through different hues so that structures can self-regulate their internal temperature.

 
The research, conducted by the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) and published in Nature Sustainability, explains that buildings consume up to 151 EJ energy—roughly about 36% of the world’s energy consumption. On top of this, 30% of global energy consumption is directed toward the operation of buildings. So it’s safe to say buildings are not the most eco-friendly structures.
 
One way to reduce the energy needed to keep them up and running is by having them self-regulate their temperature. So the team designed a non-flammable ‘electrochromic’ material with a layer of solid copper to retain infrared heat, which in turn transforms into a liquid solution to emit infrared. Depending on the weather outside, a tiny amount of electricity is needed to trigger the chemical shift between these two states.
 
Simply put, when it’s hot out, it can emit up to 92% of infrared heat to cool the interior; and when it’s cold out, it can emit just 7% to keep it warm internally.
 
The next step in the process is finding a way to scale up the production of the material. So far, it only exists as strips that measure just three inches. It is proposed that when put to actual use, the material can be turned into shingles that can adopt different custom colors without hindering its abilities.
 
 
 
[via Interesting Engineering and University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, Photo 1498311 © Anikasalsera | Dreamstime.com]