Solar Fabrics in Smart Houses
The intersection between tech and fabric isn’t a new space for researchers to explore. There are other disciplines interested in this marriage of tech and textiles, too. Sheila Kennedy is an architect and Professor of the Practice at MIT. For over a decade, Kennedy has been studying the use of solar fabrics in energy-efficient homes. Her designs use curtains inlaid with organic photovoltaic (OPV) nanotech to harvest solar energy in what’s known as the “Soft House” Project.
Kennedy’s also been developing solar textiles to allow portable light and power to rural Brasilian communities via “solar textile kits“, versatile solar-harvesting fabric kits that can be adapted into different shapes depending on use, including bags.
