A research team at the University of Colorado in Boulder is using liquid crystal technology, widely known for its use in smartphones and flat-panel HD televisions, to create a transparent, solid film for windows that could significantly improve energy efficiency in buildings. The film is thermally insulating, soundproof and protects against water condensation.
The Energy Dept.’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) awarded CU Boulder a $1.8-million grant to develop the new window coating, led by researchers from the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute. RASEI is a joint institute of CU Boulder and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, headquartered in Golden, Colo.