Transparent Wood Could Be the Window of the Future

[6Foot2]

Link: Transparent Wood Could Be the Window of the Future [The U.S. Department of Agriculture]

 

Could looking through trees be the view to a greener future? Trees replacing the clear pane glass in your windows is not a work of science fiction. It’s happening now.

 

Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) researcher Junyong Zhu in co-collaboration with colleagues from the University of Maryland and University of Colorado, have developed a transparent wood material that may be the window of tomorrow. Researchers found that transparent wood has the potential to outperform glass currently used in construction in nearly every way.

 

Their findings were published in the Journal of Advanced Functional Materials in their paper, “A Clear, Strong, and Thermally Insulated Transparent Wood for Energy Efficient Windows.”

 

While glass is the most common material used in window construction it comes with a costly economic and ecological price.

 

Heat easily transfers through glass, especially single pane, and amounts to higher energy bills when it escapes during cold weather and pours in when it’s warm. Glass production in construction also comes with a heavy carbon footprint. Manufacturing emissions are approximately 25,000 metric tons per year.

 

Now, transparent wood is emerging as one of the most promising materials of the future...

[synaesthesia]

This has been around for years - just buy any sheet timber from B&Q.

[Danp]

I expect to see this on the next series of Grand Designs

[Andrew_C]

I expect to see this on the next series of Grand Designs

It'll arrive weeks late, and 30% over budget.

[Danp]

It'll arrive weeks late, and 30% over budget.

 

Very true! And they will need to borrow more money from somewhere to pay for it