America Installs First Power-Generating Window That Maintains Full Transparency
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.
Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.
But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.
Why do we add these product links?
First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.
And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What do these affiliate links mean for you?
First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.
And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.
What do these affiliate links mean for us?
When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).
And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.
What does this mean for me personally?
You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
At Impactful Ninja, we curate positive and impactful news for you. Follow us on Google News or sign up for our free newsletter to get these delivered straight to your inbox—just like our expert roundup below!
📰 The quick summary: America’s first power-generating window is being implemented, featuring transparent solar cells that can harvest energy without sacrificing visibility or aesthetics, enabling buildings to generate electricity from previously unused surfaces.
📈 One key stat: The transparent solar cell achieves 8.07% efficiency at 10% transparency, making it viable for real-world energy generation while maintaining visibility.
💬 One key quote: “The new solar cell is expected to maintain its initial efficiency of more than 95% and be applied to a variety of buildings, vehicle glass, and portable electronic devices”, said Professor Kyoung Jin Choi, from UNIST.
1️⃣ The big picture: America is about to receive its first energy-generating window, marking a significant advancement in smart glass technology. Researchers at UNIST in South Korea developed this innovation using silicon microscopic wires embedded in transparent silicone. These windows maintain clear visibility while capturing solar energy through strategically placed microwires. Unlike earlier versions of transparent solar cells, these new panels are colorless, flexible, and resistant to bending, making them suitable for various applications beyond just buildings.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: These power-generating windows solve a critical urban challenge by harvesting energy without consuming additional space. Buildings can now generate electricity through surfaces that were previously only decorative or functional. The technology maintains transparency while producing power, preserving views and architectural aesthetics. Its flexibility and durability allow for applications beyond traditional windows, extending to vehicles, wearable devices, and foldable screens. This innovation brings us closer to integrating renewable energy generation seamlessly into our everyday environments.
3️⃣ What’s next: Manufacturers will likely begin installing these power-generating windows in commercial buildings as pilot projects. The technology might expand to residential applications once production scales up and costs decrease. Research will continue to improve efficiency rates while maintaining or enhancing transparency levels.
Read the full story here: Ecoticias – America gets its first power-generating window — Welcome to the era of smart glass
