It is well known that the cooling and heating of houses and buildings represents a very important part of current and future energy consumption, and therefore it is essential to reduce it to save energy and money, and at the same time help reduce the pollution that we generate.
Windows are tried to be insulated in different ways: with a double window, with two glasses and creating a vacuum in the middle, etc... but I just read some information that goes one step further.
A team of researchers from the University of Colorado, starting from a wood pulp, have obtained a gel composed of cellulose nanofibers that is completely transparent, which can be placed between two crystals and generates very important insulation. Similar to a wall.
This airgel is more transparent than glass, so it does not affect vision or the passage of light at all, but it does affect the passage of heat and/or the cold.
The researchers conducted tests of the material by placing a 2.5 cm thickness of airgel. between two crystals, and subjected that window to temperatures of 40ºC and -20ºC to simulate its response in both summer and winter, and the result was similar to the insulation generated by a wall. And as an added advantage they saw that the resistance to condensation was also increased.
And another additional important advantage is that the material is a derivative of wood pulp, so its cost is low. The material is estimated to cost $1 per square foot.
If we take into account that almost 40% of the world's energy is used to heat and cool buildings, we can get an idea of the possible scope of this discovery.
It only remains to hope that this news is confirmed, and that it passes from the laboratory to the industry as soon as possible. We will all benefit.
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