Energy Curtain Captures Sunlight Energy

The Energy Curtain is a window shade that is specially woven
from a unique blend - a blend of textiles, solar collection and
light emitting materials. It is the product of a research project
funded by the Swedish Energy Agency.

During the day, the shade is drawn, lessening the sun's impact
inside a dwelling.
At night, the energy recovered by the curtain is displayed as
a glowing pattern on the inside surface of the shade.

The Energy Curtain fabric consists of two layers.
The inner layer is woven with optical fibers and the outer layer
integrates solar cells.
Polyester filament yarns in the middle and on the sides are
drawn through the curtain and connected to a bar across the
top and bottom.

The Energy Curtain shows how power can be made integral to
the function and aesthetic expression of an otherwise ordinary
artifact. The residents are actually faced with a choice about
energy: they can pull the curtain aside to enjoy the sun's
illumination and heat during the day, or they can pull the
curtain closed, and make use of the energy gained that
evening.


SOURCE:
TechNovelgy.com

A very cool, useful and money saving device.

I can definately see this catching on in the near future.


Comments, Opinions?

Thank you for the info. Did you have a chance to read the WIRED magazine story on solar power concentrator technology? Here's the link to the "how it works" portion of that story"


www.wired.com...

Thats the way to go man,any utilization of solar,if only to trickle charge small apps like phones/laptops is to be applauded.
Solar jackets and jeans may come out of this great material!
Lets just hope we keep the atmosphere clean enough to allow sunlight through in the future.
(cleaner the atmoshere,the more energy from the sun.)

IMO technologies like this should be made compulsory through legislation. The government should be setting up companies to develop the technology to have a wider range of applications and then provide the energy saving techniques cheaply to our people. An awesome idea.

byhiniur:
Right on the mark dude!
Instead of the usual garbage they spew about "reducing emissions,"which is total garbage as any semi intelligent human realizes(see the below link),Solar ,wind,human/animal generators are the way to go.
(PASSIVE human/animal generators that is,like using walking power/electrical energy,rather than the matrix battery scenario!)

Heres a link which shows how our "reducing emissions" is going:

www.physorg.com...

from above link:
"The global growth in carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels was 4 times greater in the period between 2000 to 2005 than in the preceding 10 years, say scientists gathering in Beijing today for an international conference on global environmental change."

God Help Us All.

NICE find.

...I purchased several solar powered lanterns for my gardens this summer, planning to use them indoors during the winter. But alas, I do not get enough sun inside to charge the batteries properly. These 'Energy Curtains' look like they'll do the trick tho.

Hope this thread will be kept updated re: distribution and availability.

Thanks, sofi

I have some similar,but cheapo garden lights Soficrow.
Mine are the sort which sit in the garden on a spike,with a solar cell on top and a little battery inside,to feed the bulb.
What you have to do is leave them outside all day,then bring them in for the evening.
(then take them back out last thing at night to recharge for the next evening.)
Bit of a pain,and mine are far from bright-but its a start.
But free and good anyway.

Silcone Synapse, byhiniur, etc etc.

You guys should check out this book.

www.amazon.com...

It has 600 pages of solutions just like this one.

[edit on 13-11-2006 by sardion2000]

Looks worth a read Sardion,thanks!

I`ll try and pick one up if my next paycheck is fat enough.
Everyone can do something to help,and its starting to look as though we will have to.