Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have developed smart window materials for automatic climate control of buildings, a step towards sustainable materials used in construction practices.
Dr. Debabrata Sikdar, Assistant Professor, Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, along with his research scholar, Mr. Ashish Kumar Chowdhary has designed a smart window material that can effectively control the amount of heat and light passing through the window in response to an applied voltage.
The team has designed smart window ‘glasses’ using noble metals (metallic chemical elements that have outstanding resistance to oxidation, even at high temperatures) as well as their relatively inexpensive alternatives that can dynamically control the intensity of transmitted solar radiation, depending upon the weather/climate condition.
Such smart window materials would help develop efficient automatic climate control systems in buildings. The results of their study have recently been published in the journal, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells.
According to the United Nations Environment Program, buildings around the globe account for 36 percent of energy use and 39 percent of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions annually.
The primary consumption of energy in buildings is by the climate control system, in which energy-consuming devices are used to maintain comfortable indoor temperature and brightness. The developed materials will help in designing smart climate control systems in buildings to save energy and reduce carbon emissions.
“There has been increased attention to sustainable architectural designs for better light and heat management in buildings in recent years, and deploying smart windows is the first step for such structures”, added Dr. Sikdar.
