After debuting to the public last October, Tesla's customizable Solar Roof panels are now available for orders. The company claims that the glass panels, which are embedded with photovoltaic cells, are "affordable, durable, beautiful, and integrated with battery storage." Prospective customers can estimate their return on investment using the Solar Roof caluclator, to compare the cost of installation with the energy saved. The panels will cost $21.85 per square foot for a 3,000-square-foot roof and are available in four glass finishes. [Cnet]
Material scientists from Delft University, in the Netherlands, have modified asphalt by incorporating small steel fibers that, with the help of an induction machine, could lead to self-healing asphalt. According to Delft material scientist Erik Schlangen, the idea might lead to the creation of durable asphalt for road construction and also facilitate currents to charge electric vehicles. Though the findings are still preliminary, this technology has been tested on 12 roads in the Netherlands over the past seven years. All are in perfect condition. [Tech Times]
San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Tranist (BART) system is now following more aggressive, renewable power–consumption guidelines after its board of directors approved a brand-new Wholesale Electricity Portfolio Policy. According to BART director Nick Josefowitz, the agency has always been a leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but now BART is pledging to source its power from 100 percent renewable, as well as low- and zero-carbon energy, sources by 2045. [Digital Trends]
Stanford University has developed a prototype for an ultra-thin, skin-like semiconductor that fully degrades when in contact with a weak acid, such as vinegar. “We have been trying to mimic the function of human skin to think about how to develop future electronic devices,” said Zhenan Bao, a chemical engineering professor at Stanford, in a press release. The lab achieved this biodegradability by altering the polymer’s structure using reversible imine bonds. The semiconductor is still in development stages, but researchers hope it could have a wide range of uses, such as in wearable trackers or medical implants that can be absorbed by the human body. Most importantly, it could help reduce electronic waste. [New Atlas]
Scientists from the University of Antwerp and the University of Leuven in Belgium have developed a device that purifies air while generating hydrogen gas—which can be stored and used later for fuel. “Air is purified on one side, while on the other side hydrogen gas is produced from a part of the degradation products,” says guest professor Sammy Verbruggen. Using nanomaterials within its membrane to catalyze the reaction, the device turns air pollution into hydrogen. Currently, the device is in its prototype stage, but researchers plan to develop an industrial-scale model to combat urban air pollution. [Factor]
ICYMI: Autodesk's AEC media summit previewed new technologies and its new BUILD space in South Boston. [ARCHITECT]
New York–based fabricator UM Project collaborated with local wallpaper-design firm Flavor Paper to create an interactive product that combines conductive wallpaper and electronic devices. The building's electrical wiring and circuitry are embedded in the wallpaper, which then integrates low-tech and high-touch 2D and 3D elements. The wallpaper runs lines of conductive ink across each panel that lead to a singular power source. For now, it relies on human touch to operate. It was recently showcased at the Collective Design fair by NYCxDesign. [UM Project]
IT writer David Geer explains the potential of light fidelity (Li-Fi), a technology that "turns LED lamps into internet and broadcast data transmitters, creating a new form of high-speed, optical wireless communication that leverages the visible and infrared light spectrums." [Architectural Lighting]
