WATER-FILLED WINDOWS IMPROVE ACOUSTICS AND REDUCE ENERGY USAGE
After ten years of global research, Dr Matyas Gutai’s water-filled glass heating and cooling system has proved successful in four out of five of the world’s climates. The system consists of a small pump and pipe-connecting water-filled glass windows with a storage tank. When exposed to sunlight, the water trapped between the panes of glass absorbs heat, keeping rooms cool in warm seasons. When the glass reaches a particular temperature, the pump replaces the hot water with cooler water.
The tank stores heat, and in cold weather, the piping process happens in reverse, heating the building via the pipes and windows. By replacing traditional windows with the water-filled glass versions, no further aesthetic elements such as tinted glass or shutters are needed.
Two prototype homes use the windows, with the first Water House located in Kecskemet, Hungary, and Water House 2.0 located on the grounds of Feng Chia University in Taichung, Taiwan. Tested in tropical, dry, temperate, continental and polar climates, in cities including Singapore, Tehran and Sao Paulo, the windows saved 34 to 72 per cent of energy used in all climates, except for the polar.
Dr Gutai is part of the UK’s Loughborough University School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering and continues to develop the technology, as well as explore its commercial availability.
Written By: Keely Khoury
21st August 2020
Email: [email protected]
Website: lboro.ac.uk