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Decapod-inspired pigment modulation for active building facades

Author

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  • Raphael Kay

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

  • Charlie Katrycz

    (University of Toronto)

  • Kevin Nitièma

    (University of Toronto)

  • J. Alstan Jakubiec

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

  • Benjamin D. Hatton

    (University of Toronto)

Abstract

Typical buildings are static structures, unable to adjust to dynamic temperature and daylight fluctuations. Adaptive facades that are responsive to these unsteady solar conditions can substantially reduce operational energy inefficiencies, indoor heating, cooling, and lighting costs, as well as greenhouse-gas emissions. Inspired by marine organisms that disperse pigments within their skin, we propose an adaptive building interface that uses reversible fluid injections to tune optical transmission. Pigmented fluids with tunable morphologies are reversibly injected and withdrawn from confined layers, achieving locally-adjustable shading and interior solar exposure. Multicell arrays tiled across large areas enable differential and dynamic building responses, demonstrated using both experimental and simulated approaches. Fluidic reconfigurations can find optimal states over time to reduce heating, cooling, and lighting energy in our models by over 30% compared to current available electrochromic technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Raphael Kay & Charlie Katrycz & Kevin Nitièma & J. Alstan Jakubiec & Benjamin D. Hatton, 2022. "Decapod-inspired pigment modulation for active building facades," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-31527-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31527-6
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