Hong Kong window-coating, heat-shielding invention shines at US awards competition
Breakthrough that can reduce heat from sunlight by 40 per cent recognised at event in Washington, DC
A Polytechnic University invention featuring nano-coated glass that can block 40 per cent of the heat from sunlight and save costs on air conditioning is one of three projects from the institution to have won an international award, in a first for Hong Kong.
The university is seeking to commercialise the product following the recognition it received at the 2017 TechConnect Global Innovation Awards in Washington, along with other winners including Nasa and the University of California.
This is the first time an institution from Hong Kong has bagged the award, established five years ago by the TechConnect World Conference, an annual event promising to “accelerate the commercialisation of innovations out of the lab and into industry”.
Dr Lin Lu – who invented the nano-coating – from PolyU’s department of building services engineering, said the use of nanotechnology helped solve a problem that arose from design trends.
“People now want more windows in buildings to allow natural light. But it makes the building very hot inside especially in the summer,” Lu said.
“This technology is a breakthrough – it can block 90 per cent of near infra-red light and 99 per cent of ultraviolet light, reducing heat by 40 per cent.