What if I were to tell you that you could live comfortably in Phoenix, Arizona during the sweltering summer months without an air conditioner? Would you believe me? Probably not. A few weeks ago it was so hot that street signs and garbage cans were literally melting into the pavement. But in the near future that may actually be possible thanks to a remarkable new metamaterial with some unique cooling properties.
According to Forbes, “The metamaterial film can both reflect nearly all incoming solar energy back into the atmosphere and shed heat through infrared thermal radiation. In other words, it both reflects energy and wicks heat away from a house or building.”
But that’s not all. The best part is that it’s easy to manufacturing and can be used anywhere.
As Forbes reports, “It can be applied to practically any object from roofing, to solar panels, to pavement and parking decks. All the while the metamaterial requires no energy and no water.”
This innovation will have a huge impact on society, not just in warmer climates, but in the North as well, where the average temperature inside an urban metropolis is typically several degrees hotter at night than the surrounding environment thanks to the urban heat island effect. Utilizing such a material will likely save strain on the electrical grid, meaning that we could have more energy available for other pursuits, such as powering our electric cars.
Is this new metamaterial the Greatest Idea Ever?
Leave a comment