FEB 23

Glass buildings can provide an appealing environment of light and openness, but too much sunlight will over heat the building, as well as creating glare. While conventional shades can be used to control light levels, a new option is to use a low power material attached to the glass that can quickly adjust to increase shading or let more light in as needed.

As shown by their presentation, the shading system developed by designers Decker Yeadon can be installed in an organic configuration to highlight the biomimetic nature of this material. These shades use a dielectric elastomer, which is stressed and changes configuration when a charge is applied. When actuated with a low-power electric charge, tension in the dielectric increases, which causes it to contract. As it does so, it pulls on the flexible polymer core inside it, causing the assembly to spread open and increase the shading.

The video clip demonstrates how it works with a sample section of the material that looks something like a butterfly opening and closing its wings. The dielectric surfaces of the material are coated with silver which acts as a conductor for the low power current needed to activate the material, as well as being an excellent reflector of sunlight to provide rejection of excessive daylight when acting as a shade.

The presentation implies that the actuation of the shading material is automatic, though it is unclear whether this is an inherent property of the material itself (which seems to be implied, but is not directly stated) or whether there is an external system controller that applies a charge when the system is to be activated. In either case, the fact that the system requires low power makes it an intriguing option. And since "the shade is the motor," very localized control is possible with the material.

This system is intended for use inside a double-wall glazing system, presumably because it is far too delicate to be exposed to weather if it was exposed on the outside of a building. Because of this, it is unlikely to be a widely adopted solution, but it does represent a first step with an intriguing material that has many potential uses beyond just green buildings.

via: Treehugger

Comments (2)

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How much?
written by Asaf Shalgi, March 03, 2011

This looks way too cool to actually be affordable.

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written by GreenBear, March 03, 2011

Now, something like this that also had the capability of photovoltaic capture solar rays and production of electricity to help power the building would be even more of an improvement. I am not an engineer, so I have no clue as to how to do this, but someone must. If someone out there develops and markets this and hadn't thought of it themselves, then please install one for me, without charge(except for electric) and keep the rest of the profits. I already have photovoltaic on my deck's roof, but I could use a tad more.

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