Even at the right price, though, these materials will still have plenty to prove. One of the biggest concerns will be how long they hold up, Smith says. Materials' lifespans -- or durability -- and reliability are critical to calculating their depreciation and total cost over time. As Smith puts it, "If it lasts a year and you have to keep changing it, it might not be cost-efficient." LEED certification would go a long way toward winning credibility with architects and contractors, he added.
If these materials do prove cost efficient, durable and sustainable, Smith predicts big corporations will be their first commercial customers. After that, he thinks the materials also could find a big market in new condos and apartments. But he expects the earliest adopter will be Uncle Sam. If the government tries the technology on federal buildings and finds that it cuts utility bills and lasts a long time, it could choose to introduce it into the private sector with a tax credit or other incentives, Smith says.
Moving out of the labs
Before getting in with Uncle Sam, though, self-sustaining materials first need to get out of the lab. They're only in early development now, and He estimates the heating gel remains at least three to four years away from becoming a market-ready product, such as windows or insulation. Still, she thinks the technology has a good chance of getting licensed.
Making the hydrogel is actually a "pretty simple" process that doesn't require costly equipment, she said. "We imagine it will not be difficult to scale up, make the first commercial prototype and optimize it into real industrialized fabrication," she said. "We think it should be really promising and not taking very long."
She admits that challenges exist. Making a material that can control its temperature in a lab is a far cry from making the material work the same way on a building. "In the lab, at a small scale, you don't have to consider the outside environment very much," He said. "In the window of a building, you need to consider the sunlight, wind and other very harsh conditions out of the lab. We'll have to find ways to protect [these materials] and make them sturdy enough."
Next page: How it works, and what's next
Phase change building
Phase change building materials that passively regulate temperature highs and lows already exist. My favorite is BioPCM from Phase Change Energy Solutions (based in North Carolina) which sells sheets embedded with vegetable-oil-based gel that takes 10-15 degrees off the highs and lows in any space. www.phasechange.com
My company Datum Phase Change
My company Datum Phase Change Ltd, have patented and manufacture building products that utilise Biobased Phase Change Material derived from vegetable oils such as soya and rapeseed.
We have installed our RACUS Ceiling tiles in buildings here in the UK and achieved up to 97% energy savings over the existing Air Conditioning, we also have a wall system F.E.S-Board Fabric Energy Storage = Thermal Mass they both store and release Latent heat reducing the need for Air Conditioning.
The wonder of R&D is that it
The wonder of R&D is that it ends up converting miracles to regular life experiences. Perhaps researchers may verify the ancient technology by which my grand-mother's mud hut in South East Nigeria maintained a relatively steady internal temperature despite changes in ambient temperatures.
I think they did that here
I think they did that here quite a while ago...they were called earth homes.
Imagine this material as the
Imagine this material as the building shell being made out of low cost products of consumption (biodegradable that is) that can be made in local or regional economies and can create 1000's of jobs through manufacturing (growing?) and constantly need for very low cost maintainability that creates 1000's of local and stable jobs to ensure the product is always up to date and function. Imagine if the outside of the shell is likewise the same but collects solar energy energy to feed into the building and grid.
Am I crazy?