Air-conditioning is disastrous for the planet, accounting for 9 percent of all energy consumption in the US on its own. As a means of cutting the fossil fuel emissions that come with the heating and cooling of buildings, an architect has invented a shading system made from a smart material called thermobimetal that changes shape in response to heat.
The invention looks like a regular decorative shutter, but its metal pieces curl and flip over in the sun, altering how much light and heat can enter a space. Wouldn’t it be cool to see the facade of a building altering as the temperature changes? We think so. And the good thing as well about these windows is that, despite blocking heat from coming in, the shading system still allows natural, indirect daylight to come in through windows and doesn’t block the view of people looking outside.
The thermobimetal shutters are expected to go into production next year, and could play a massive role in reducing the carbon footprint of buildings in the future.
This story was one of the best from 2019, and we are happy to include it in our “12 Days of Optimism” as we get ready to welcome 2020!
