Smart windows store sun’s energy

[handmade34]

http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/2012/06/smart-windows-store-sun-energy

"Scientists in China have developed a smart window that not only heats and cools a building, but can also act as an energy storage device to power electrical equipment within the building.

Smart windows are already in use in some buildings; they are used to reduce energy consumption by keeping the interiors cool and controlling the light levels within. An example of this is in museums, where artifacts could be damaged by too much sunlight.

Now, Zhixiang Wei from the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology and colleagues have made a window that combines a supercapacitor with an electrochromic window pane that changes colour. In bright sunlight, it absorbs and stores energy, but when it is full to capacity, the window darkens to limit the amount of light that enters..."

[Curmudgeoness]

1. How exciting!

I wish that we would really put money and brains into more of this. Too bad technology like this will never be affordable for me in my lifetime. I have wanted this since I was young.

[madokie]

2. I agree about in our lifetimes

But I still find it refreshing that in our children or grand children's lifetime some of these things will come to be..

[FogerRox]

3. Photo grey sun glasses were available in the early 70's