Although it can be a real blessing to turn on the AC during those hot summer days, our energy bills won’t be as relieved. On the contrary, things will get quite hot, especially if you turn it on quite a bit.
But, what if we told you that it’s possible to keep your home naturally cool and without having to turn on the AC at all?-This is what the newest invention by Yi Zheng promises!
The associate professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at the Northeastern University in Boston created a durable material that can be used on buildings and other objects to ensure they stay cool, without having to rely on ACs and other cooling systems.
The Cooling Paper Promises to Keep Homes Cool Naturally
Did you know that our ACs don’t just increase our electricity bills, but also contribute to the carbon footprint?-In fact, roughly speaking, around 117 million tons of it are emitted in the US on a yearly basis.
According to Zheng, this material which he calls cooling paper is intended for covering roofs of houses, office buildings, and warehouses.
Light in color, this material is capable of reflecting the sunrays away from the building and draw heat from the interior as well.
This is the heat that’s being released by our cooking devices, electronics, and our bodies.
What’s more, this paper, Zheng explains, is able to reduce the temperature in a room by as much as 10 degrees F, which is a real game changer. Could we finally be able to say no to ACs which demand a lot of electricity and consequently, a lot of money?
How Does the Invention Work?
This cooling paper works through a porous microstructure of the natural fibers inside of it. They absorb warmth and release it away from the building. And, it’s interesting that the cooling paper is made of common paper.
Zheng is studying this light-colored material as part of his studies on nanomaterials. He came up with the idea after he saw a bucket full of printing paper in his office.
This is when he asked if it’s possible to transform this waste into a functional energy material.
Together with his team, he used a high-speed blender from his kitchen to pulverize the paper and then combined it with a material that makes up Teflon.
He believes this paper could be a suitable coating for buildings and homes. And, even when it’s recycled, the paper performs as well as the non-recycled. This surprised Zheng because he believed there would be a 10 or 20 percent loss, but there was none!
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