Energy-Efficient Glass from Food Waste

Problem

Potentially billions of dollars are lost every year in waste heat due to poorly insulated buildings, a big problem for e.g. building operators. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that one fourth of all energy utilized to control the indoor climate in buildings in the U.S. is waste heat and cooling from windows. Most windows are poor insulators, and it is often costly to upgrade these to better high-performing ones — especially in high-rise buildings. There are several "smart windows" on the market today tackling this problem; however, most suffer from drawbacks, such as high material cost, durability (fogging after extended use), limited reversibility of the filtering function and slow response time.

Solution

CU Boulder researchers have developed an insulating gel — an aerogel based on nanotechnology — that can coat windows and insulate them by blocking infrared radiation (i.e. heat in the longer wavelengths). The aerogel is clear and does not block the visibility of the windows, which many current applications do, and can be utilized on new and old windows to significantly increase their energy performance. In addition, the material is renewable, as it is derived from bio-waste - such as food waste.

Market Application

The technology can be used to improve the insulation, and thereby the energy performance, in existing builings, as well as in the manufacturing of new glass, for both residential and commercial use. Due to the high-performing characteristics of the material, it can also be used in space applications by trapping and storing energy from the sun in space habitats (similar to how a greenhouse stays warm during the winter). It could also be used to insulate clothing during extreme conditions, which is applicable for military use and more.

What's Next?

The university is looking to license out this opportunity to industry partners. This patent portfolio is available for exclusive and non-exclusive licensing.