When we think of capturing solar energy, we often think of the large, clunky panels on rooftops that are expensive and inefficient. But what if your windows could capture the energy of the sunlight as it passes through them to help run your coffee maker or heat your house in the winter?Last week, a team of MSU researchers announced their creation of a device that might just be able to help with that. The device called a “transparent luminescent solar concentrator” could be a major paradigm shift in the harnessing of solar energy, according to Richard Lunt. He is an assistant professor of chemical engineering, materials science and physics at MSU and led the research on this project.
This segment is supported by Michigan State University's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism. More news about the Great Lakes environment can be found at GreatLakesEcho.org and on Current State every Tuesday as part of our partnership.