Conventional windows enable energy exchange almost 10 times that of insulated walls contributing to massive energy waste.
To address the problem, Griffith University is undertaking research into a new kind of low-cost, energy saving smart window.
Director of the university's centre for clean envionment and energy, Professor Huijun Zhao, is leading the team that will develop low cost and scalable synthesis of functional nanomaterials that will make the smart windows work.
The research project will also facilitate the commercialisation of the new windows by investigating how these new materials can be integrated into the glass manufacturing process to assist Australia's manufacturing industry.
“Besides residential buildings, this is particularly important for office buildings, hotels and schools where the energy consumption for HVAC and lighting are more than 70 per cent of the total energy consumption,” Zhao said.
As well as energy savings, he said smart windows offer several dynamic functions such as self-cleaning, thermochromics and solar-harvesting and user-controlled functions such as heating, electrochromics and interactive display.
“With the advancement of materials science and the Internet of Things, smart windows will be more prevalent and will be important in building automation and energy management,” Zhao said.