Scientists are developing a radical new approach to building construction, helped by the Pilkington Efficiency Trust (PEET), which has the potential to drastically cut heating energy costs.

The aim of project, led by Professor Saffa Riffat of Nottingham University, is to enable buildings to make maximum use of the sun’s energy while at the same time minimising heat losses through the walls.

To do this, the team is developing a ‘thermal diode’, i.e. a process that allows one-way transfer of heat – into the building, rather than out of it. Installed on south-facing walls, this technology could provide valuable winter heating for the occupants. This technique is combined with the use of a phase-change material (PCM) incorporated on the interior wall surface of the building. PCMs change from solid to liquid and back when they absorb (or release) heat. Combining the two should improve the efficiency of the heat transfer process and enhance the comfort conditions for the occupants.

Source

Glass Age