Researchers from the University of Toronto are borrowing from krill biology to develop new technologies to cool down indoor environments. Antarctic krill use pigments stored in their skin to protect themselves from the sun and scientists want to apply this same response to buildings by filling windows with two types of fluid: one that absorbs sunlight, and another that allows it to pass through. By dispersing this liquid through the façade of a skyscraper, the building can block sunlight, keeping it cool, krill-style. Modelling shows that this method can reduce energy consumption by more than 30%
The krill building: An illustration depicts a decapod-derived window shading system in action.
Credit: Nature Communications
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