Optically transparent thermally insulating retrofits for single-pane windows
Evelyn Wang, Gang Chen & Xuanhe Zhao with Elise Strobach and Bikram Bhatia
Insulating silica aerogel
Every year, windows in the United States lose enough energy to power over 85 million homes. This wasted energy costs $20 billion and generates more carbon dioxide than 76 million cars, but traditional window products still force consumers to choose between energy efficiency and affordability. This team’s solution is a groundbreaking silica aerogel material that is more transparent than glass, twice as insulating as air, and cost-competitive with existing products.
AeroShield
Technology from this project spun out into a startup company, AeroShield.
Preventing energy loss in windows
Mechanical engineers are developing technologies that could prevent heat from entering or escaping windows, potentially preventing a massive loss of energy.
Making Forbes’ 2020 30 Under 30: Energy
Kyle Wilke and Elise Strobach, Cofounders of AeroShield, make Forbes’ annual list.