MIT Architect Develops Solar 'Curtains' for Home Applications
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 06.23.08
Image from MIT
Proving that photovoltaic materials need not always be part of large, bulky solar panels, Sheila Kennedy, principal architect at Kennedy & Violich Architecture and a lecturer at MIT, has developed solar textiles -- membrane-like surfaces that can be draped like curtains or used to cover walls or roofs -- using 3D modeling software. They work just like conventional solar cells are made of similar semiconductor materials.
Kennedy recently exhibited her project, called "Soft House" (see above picture), at the Vitra Design Museum in Germany in which she transformed typical curtains into energy-harvesting surfaces able to track the sun -- and generate up to 16,000 watt-hours of electricity.
Soft House prototype
All that solar energy would provide a welcome source of power for a home's solid state lighting and typical assortment of gadgets/devices -- tools, phones, laptops, etc. In addition to absorbing sunlight throughout the day, the curtains can form an insulating air layer for the building envelope; a central curtain can be lowered to create an extra room or folded upward to become a suspended chandelier.
See KVA website for text/data
Though the solar technology deployed in Kennedy's Soft House, organic photovoltaics (OPV), is less efficient than conventional silicon-based technologies, Kennedy believes it could still become a commercial success. Projects like hers provide a unique outlet for the distinct benefits of this solar nanotechnology, she explains, without competing with the centralized grid. Kennedy's architecture firm plans on collaborating with urban planners and real estate developers to design site-specific Soft House pre-fab projects.
Other solar textile applications
When combined with their obvious appeal to clothing manufacturers, solar textiles could eventually make up a robust share of the booming solar market -- forming what has been dubbed the "wearable solar" industry. Avid solar enthusiasts may soon be able to cover all their home's surfaces with PV materials.
Via ::ScienceDaily: Getting Wrapped Up In Solar Textiles (news website)
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Wouldn't it be amazing to use this material for sails? When there's not enough wind to move the boat, you could still drive an electric motor.
I am just like alot of people learning to become green. I woud be willing to sample this product in my home since I just removed some older blinds in my home. If their looking for people to try out their product, how would I contact them ?
Sheila Kennedy produces some interesting work, she also developed a bag for 3rd world countries. basically the bag is a solar collector that a person wears during the day in the field or whatnot, at night, the bag has a light that they use for light inside their living structure. we need more thinking like this in design.
"and generate up to 16,000 watt-hours"
Is this per day, per week, per month, per year? I can't interpret what this result means, as it stands.
Cool. I still want some solar mini-blinds!
Awesome,
Truly this is a breakthrough solutions for both energy crisis and innovative home designs...
Awesome,
Truly this is a breakthrough solutions for both energy crisis and innovative home designs... Thanks a tonne for sharing...