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Window's that are also Solar Panels

greenopolis.com — MIT and other companies find ways to turn windows into solar panels. Possibly offering stylish and affordable alternatives to rooftop panels.

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  • scotq, on 07/21/2008, -1/+5Oh how I want these!
  • greenguy2323, on 07/21/2008, -1/+12This is a great idea. I think one of the things holding solar panels back for years was their obtrusive and unappealing look.
    • whaught, on 07/23/2008, -0/+8I think its their $40000+ price tag and the 15+ years to break even.
      • oldgal, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3They do have solar roof tiles now that look just like regular roof tiles, and the price is continually coming down.
      • dandonia, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2They can't cost too much to make - someone is clearly out for a lot of profit.
  • Temlakos, on 07/21/2008, -1/+15This is what I like--practical solutions.

    Why hasn't anyone said more about the direct benefit that rooftop solar panels might provide in the summertime? The article said that a conventional panel best aborbs infrared (IR) light. Well, IR is what makes it hot, isn't it? And if you're absorbing IR to turn it into juice, then it's not wasting itself as heat, right? You'd think a rooftop panel could keep the house cool even apart from providing juice to run an electric fan or air-cooling compressor. Now am I missing something? If not, why hasn't anyone talked more about this? If I'm right about this, then rooftop panels reduce demand while at the same time augmenting supply--a double benefit.
    • krnldmp, on 07/23/2008, -0/+8What you're missing is proper attic insulation is WAY cheaper than covering your roof with photovoltaic panels.
    • DrJG, on 07/24/2008, -0/+1Temlakos - right on both counts.
  • andy2245, on 07/21/2008, -8/+2LOL WTF
  • Fangsinmybeard, on 07/21/2008, -0/+4Sounds very promising. Using a window or skylight to get solar electricity is an affordable solution.
  • c4sh, on 07/22/2008, -9/+47ENGLISH, *****, DO YOU SPEAK IT!?
  • pinkpackrat, on 07/22/2008, -0/+5I think this new technology developed at MIT also makes solar panels more efficient-- which will eventually make solar panels more affordable--much more important than looks or stye in my book.
  • LoadStar, on 07/23/2008, -4/+38APOSTROPHE FAIL.
  • gamergod42, on 07/23/2008, -6/+11Me's thinks awl storys wif grammer errers shuldnt bee duggup. Pieryid!
  • eviljolly, on 07/23/2008, -0/+4So now we'll be using windows to run Windows...
    • umbrellainabin, on 07/23/2008, -2/+1and it'll still be ***** heh heh
  • uncoveror, on 07/23/2008, -3/+16The submitter is an illiterate yahoo. Learn about the apostrophe here.
    http://www.angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif
  • mrgoat, on 07/23/2008, -2/+14Just because a word has an s at the end doesn't mean it needs an apostrophe.

    http://www.apostrophe.fsnet.co.uk/examples_1.htm
    • beerncheese, on 07/23/2008, -1/+5I put an apo'strophe before every 's ju'st to be 'safe.
  • ApokalypseNow, on 07/23/2008, -5/+19Overuse of apostrophes with such blatant disregard for the rules of grammar is wasteful, and has caused an apostrophe shortage in many third-world countries. They're even feeling the bite over in eastern Europe, with long lines to purchase apostrophes at extortionate prices in places such as Estonia and Romania. The apostrophe black market has surged in recent months in those countries, and several border guards have died in violent shootouts with apostrophe smugglers. Poland has instituted a government program to supply apostrophes to the needy, but the lines are longer than most are willing to wait, so many families there simply go without apostrophes and are unable to understand each other due to a lack of distinct grammatical roles in similar sounding words. The Germans have been trying to help their neighbors by converting commas into apostrophes, but it is an expensive process, and occasionally the new apostrophes fall back down to comma level, inserting an unnecessary pause in the middle of a word and causing additional grammatical problems and confusion.

    Please, think of the apostrophes.
  • MisterEX, on 07/23/2008, -0/+4It'd be great to be able to apply these windows to automobiles as well to help with efficiency and energy in any way possible. Great stuff!
  • Ansible, on 07/23/2008, -4/+2Plural's that are also possessive's. Is MIT a company?
  • gojcaj, on 07/23/2008, -0/+6Wow imagine New York skyscrapers having these. Or any major city for that matter. Great idea.
  • NathanielJ, on 07/23/2008, -2/+4I swear that the only reason some stories get to the front page is because of the grammar/spelling mistakes in the title which cause the number of comments to explode.
  • IphtashuFitz, on 07/23/2008, -3/+4Dupe: http://digg.com/environment/New_Inexpensive_MIT_So ...
    Dupe: http://digg.com/tech_news/Dying_to_Boost_Solar_Eff ...
    Dupe: http://digg.com/environment/MIT_Opens_New_Window_o ...

    All on the front page in the last week or two... Buried.
  • TastyWheat, on 07/23/2008, -1/+5Why is this ***** always 3 years away?
  • stonewall123, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3Its a good start but these articles neglect to mention some key points. I think some people might have problems with the life expectancy of this material. According to their Fact sheet http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/solarcells-faq- ... ...
    " What about stability? We tested one of our devices and found that it was stable (to 92 percent of initial performance) for three months. This isn't good enough yet for products but we are confident that the technology developed for organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) in televisions will be portable to this application."

    If you are losing 8% efficiency every 3 months that is not great considering people expect their solar panels to last 20-30 years. Perhaps they could make this as a cheap consumable replacement like an air filter. Any thoughts about this or the waste (possibly toxic) that might be generated by such a strategy?


    • r00fus, on 07/24/2008, -0/+2Obviously 8% loss in 3 months is unacceptable.

      I think they are planning on using the OLED technology that keeps the OLEDs from dying early (a problem in early models... imagine if your TV lost 10% brightness every year) to be repurposed before they even think of marketing or putting this innovation into production.
    • DrJG, on 07/24/2008, -0/+2Once there is a beginning there will be improvements - think of the first televisions and first computers, or planes and cars.
  • thewesterly, on 07/23/2008, -3/+4Now fellow's, theres no need to start making accusation's - we all make mistake's.
  • BlazeMiskulin, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1Photovoltaic windows aren't new. MIT has simply improved the technology. The University of Wisconsin's Green Bay campus installed photovoltaic windows in the (then) newly-constructed Coffrin Hall back in 2001. If I recall, they estimated that 10% of the building's power would come from the windows. This isn't a whole lot, but this was also 7 years ago.
  • AzumaKazuma, on 07/23/2008, -1/+3Glad to see sun and windows working together at last
  • davideparker, on 07/23/2008, -2/+3Apostrophe's and they're use's.
  • firebat9er, on 07/23/2008, -1/+2im an architecture student so here is my .02c on this all. if a building is truly low energy use, and especially if you are going for zero energy use, the windows will not be directly hit by the sunlight during summer months as this heats the frick out of your building interior resulting in energy spent on cooling. however there are many buildings that do have windows exposed already so these could be employed there. i really don't see any drawbacks to having your roof covered with panels, i mean what the hell does anyone do with their roof otherwise?
  • ChayD, on 07/23/2008, -2/+4I only came here for the grammar slanging - now what was that about solar panels?
  • chemam, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1I had this idea a few months back, I just thought it'd be so practical....
    but again it happens all the time, think of something that has never done before, a month or two after you'll see someone else with the same idea already in developing stages...
    it's all about taking action i guess.
  • beauley, on 07/24/2008, -0/+1With Global Warming on many people's minds, do we have any ideas of the best way to lessen the impact on our future, or maybe a possible relief of its possible ravages or even a possible key to its eventual reversal. Many scientific experts have proposed
    http://www.quazen.com/Science/Technology/Solar-Pow ...
    Solar Power: Source of Endless Energy
  • DrJG, on 07/24/2008, -0/+1There seems to be no reason not to add solar panels on whatever surfaces that can use them - roofs for direct sunlight in most of the world (and that will cool the house too possibly, or they can be designed to have that effect) and windows where sun is low.

    Cars, too, could use both, for multipurpose use; keeping cool for one and using the energy for whatever purpose one directs it to for another.

    And yes it is a wonderful thought to have all buildings, skyscrapers and homes, using their roofs and windows trasformed to use solar energy and become independant.

    The sooner the better. The variations could all go ahead to develop and compete and so on - and it can only get better.

    And cudos to Wisconsin too, for having done it already. Southern deserts could provide enough for the whole land, too.
  • 42tyg, on 07/24/2008, -0/+2I look forward to these getting on the consumer market. I'm looking to replace my homes windows in the next 5 years or so and was looking to get solar panels put on the roof. If I can do both with one fell swoop then great!!

    By the way - to all the grammar nazis out there - get over it....
  • wello321, on 07/28/2008, -0/+1Agree with 42tyg - perhaps a step towards solving the global energy crisis that is looming... our gas bills in the UK just went up 20% yesterday and electricity by 17%. No explanation, just the price hike. Come on SOLAR!
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