Technologies of the future in construction business
In May 2023, Oxford PV start-up set a world record for light-to-electricity conversion of 28.6% using a tandem perovskite-silicon project that uses both materials to capture energy from different parts of the solar spectrum. There are plans to increase the efficiency of solar panels built this way to over 30% and to launch their production.
Experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Wyss Institute have invented an energy storage system composed of cement, carbon black and water. These substances form a nanocomposite that can transform houses and roads into giant batteries. The supercapacitor can be used in the concrete foundations of the house to provide energy for the whole day at no extra cost, or it can be placed in concrete roadways and provide contactless charging of electric vehicles while travelling.
Researchers at Purdue University have created a white paint that, when applied, can reduce the temperature of the roof surface and cool the building underneath. The paint can reduce the surface temperature by approx. 4.5°C compared to the ambient temperature at noon and to approx. 10.5°C at night, reducing the temperature inside buildings and the need for air conditioning by up to 40%. The paint is excellent while touching, even in the scorching sun. Unlike air conditioners, it does not need energy to operate and does not heat the air outside. It’s worth mentioning that during the hottest days, the surface of asphalt and concrete exposed to direct sunlight can reach temperatures of up to 82°C.
