Smart insulation.
A thought that is coming on almost faster than I can type. Used to indicate that this is an idea that I am thinking through as I am writing it.. Thought for the day: Nanotube (or larger) system that forms capilaries on the outside of a building.
How it works:
As the capilary heats up, it expands, the increase in diameter drawing water up into itself from a ground tank. This water is cooler, which helps shrink said capilary, and the water drops down into the tank as a result. There is a return feed at the top of the capilary system as well, so that water is the automatically returned once it has reached it's maximim temperature. All the capilaries feed one way only, so that when the constrict, the water goes out a side vent and returns to the tank.Since the tunes are flexible, freezing should not be an issue.
Since a cell can only return water if it's compromised, it becomes easy to notice problem areas.
Application: passive cooling system for the sunny side of a house in summer, to help keep the structure itself cool.
Problems:
- How does paint adhere to a constantly expanding and contracting structure?
- How do you attach it to a building without compromising the system?
- What happens if the water becomes an anaerobic germ farm?
- Durability: What happens when a large object strikes the surface?
- How is leaking handled?
Possible solutions:
Material is grown in an overlapping series of fractals, and is set in place in sheets that automatically self align and repair (nano machines?) on installation. Applying a slight charge to system reactivates the bots and gets them to repair leaks. Solar cells (or house current) attached to the fabric then jolt them to life from time to time for periodic maintenence.
Material is applied beneath other siding materials (under aluminum, over foam board), and given it's small size the expanding/shrinkage is dealt with by having small spacers to offset the actual siding from the tubing. [Ryan Greene's Radio Weblog]
7:45:20 AM 
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