When the cities around the world are mostly covered with giant concrete penises, any idea of evolution in architecture could take any number of directions ... but it doesn't. However, at least making the glass change colors could possibly make the world's downtown areas look like one of those cheap and gawdy suburban Christmas displays. (Science Daily: Automatically darkening windows in a wide range of colors)
Underlying the science is the fact skyscrapers are poor designs which are incredibly difficult to heat or cool. The new windows offer some help with heating / cooling management and they do it with colors but they don't solve any problem; they just make it more colorful.
In winter, when the sun sets earlier in the afternoon, people are happy to catch every last sunbeam. On hot summer days, however, office workers are keen to do without extra heat from the sun. Electrochromic glass offers a solution: When it's gloomy outside, the glass remains transparent and lets through light and heat. But when the sun is blazing, the windows darken to keep most of the heat outside. These panes shimmer in a lovely shade of blue -- up to now, other colors were not possible.
- SD
The logic is clear and it's the same reason we want double- or triple-paned glass on the windows for homes due to the improved insulation. Replacing the windows is a giant expense for a homeowner and think of the joy when tasked with replacing all the glass in a skyscraper.
The new glass is voltage-switched which makes it easily programmable. Their research shows the material is stable and they're working on making more colors available.
Sturdiness is also a point in favor for the new process. "We tested the stability of our new electrochromic panes in accordance with applicable DIN standards. Even a pane comprising just two layers is sturdy enough for use as overhead glazing or in surfaces meant to be walked on. Previously you needed many more for that," says Eberhardt. With the special resin, this means that it is possible to save on material costs because only two panes are needed instead of three or four. For the first time, these can also be electrochromically switched. Furthermore, the glass is also suitable for ship building. The researchers have already produced a prototype of the electrochromic resin glazing. While their current prototype switches to blue, in the next step researchers plan to implement other colors such as red.
- SD
If that sounds like a sales pitch ... well, yeah.
Ed: it's a bloody waste of money when most of the workers in corporate constructions can't even see the windows!
That too, mate.
Underlying the science is the fact skyscrapers are poor designs which are incredibly difficult to heat or cool. The new windows offer some help with heating / cooling management and they do it with colors but they don't solve any problem; they just make it more colorful.
In winter, when the sun sets earlier in the afternoon, people are happy to catch every last sunbeam. On hot summer days, however, office workers are keen to do without extra heat from the sun. Electrochromic glass offers a solution: When it's gloomy outside, the glass remains transparent and lets through light and heat. But when the sun is blazing, the windows darken to keep most of the heat outside. These panes shimmer in a lovely shade of blue -- up to now, other colors were not possible.
- SD
The logic is clear and it's the same reason we want double- or triple-paned glass on the windows for homes due to the improved insulation. Replacing the windows is a giant expense for a homeowner and think of the joy when tasked with replacing all the glass in a skyscraper.
The new glass is voltage-switched which makes it easily programmable. Their research shows the material is stable and they're working on making more colors available.
Sturdiness is also a point in favor for the new process. "We tested the stability of our new electrochromic panes in accordance with applicable DIN standards. Even a pane comprising just two layers is sturdy enough for use as overhead glazing or in surfaces meant to be walked on. Previously you needed many more for that," says Eberhardt. With the special resin, this means that it is possible to save on material costs because only two panes are needed instead of three or four. For the first time, these can also be electrochromically switched. Furthermore, the glass is also suitable for ship building. The researchers have already produced a prototype of the electrochromic resin glazing. While their current prototype switches to blue, in the next step researchers plan to implement other colors such as red.
- SD
If that sounds like a sales pitch ... well, yeah.
Ed: it's a bloody waste of money when most of the workers in corporate constructions can't even see the windows!
That too, mate.
No comments:
Post a Comment