The lost of energy throughout every system is the consistent bane of green technology. Darn you thermodynamics! Hooray you Scientists!

realcleverscience:

They’ve been talking about this kind of stuff for awhile, and it’s good to hear about some major progress. This is the kind of simple, smart step that will seem real obvious in retrospect, just like smart-cars will.

RCS Highlights:

A new material that can retain and release heat according to specific temperature requirements could make a significant difference to the cost of heating and cooling buildings, scientists say.

Researchers based at The University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) believe their invention — which could be used in existing structures as well as new builds — could offer considerable energy savings. The novel non-deformed energy storage phase change material (PCM) has the unique advantage of possessing a larger energy storage capacity with faster thermal response than existing materials and could be cheaply manufactured.

If, for example, the required optimum temperature in a room is 22°C, the material can be fixed so that it starts absorbing any excess heat above that temperature… [it can] be applied anywhere, from walls and roofs to wallpaper...

Professor Darkwa said: “The construction industry produces more carbon emissions than any other industry in the world — even more than aviation. In China, the building sector is one of the highest energy consuming sectors, accounting for about 30 per cent of total energy usage and also a significant proportion of pollutant emissions.”This material, if widely used, could make a major impact in the world’s efforts to reduce carbon emission.”..

The next developmental steps will include creating material which can be used for both heating and cooling applications. “The material won’t make air-conditioners obsolete… This material purely reduces the amount of excessive heat energy in a room,” said Professor Darkwa…

The material could potentially save up to 35 per cent of energy in a building and scientists believe it could also be used in solar panels and LED (light-emitting diode) lighting to enhance the efficiency of these alternative energy-generating technologies…

(via fyeahmaterials)