United States. Researchers at Stanford University, California, developed a new "supermirror" structure that would allow buildings to cool down without using traditional air conditioning systems.
The study indicates that the infrared rays received by the structure located on the roof would come directly into space preventing the building from heating up with sunlight, working as a thermal radiator and sending off heat as infrared radiation.
"If you cover significant parts of the ceiling with this mirror you will see how much electricity you can save," explains Shanhui Fan, lead author of the study and a photonics expert at Stanford University, in statements published by BBCmundo.com
The mirror has a thickness of 1.8 microns, is formed of seven layers of silicon dioxide and hafnium oxide on top of a thin layer of silver. These layers do not have a uniform thickness, but have been designed to create the new material.
The prototype was already tested by the researchers in a building, which lowered its establishment temperature by 5ºC.
