SolarGaps Interesting Concept of Generating Power from Solar Blinds

In a world which is struggling to strike balance between its exhaustible energy reserves and the needs of the society conservation is a crucial concern. The cries of scientists calling for smarter energy consumption decisions seems to have finally ring a bell with the public, who is now fast opting for more sustainable appliances and devices to save the planet. One of such ideas is the use of solar blinds on windows. These blinds help to generate solar energy in a completely natural way. If you are looking for something that’s cheap, effective and customizable then SolarGaps’ solar blinds are a great way to start your journey towards sustainable living. What’s more is that apart from saving energy wastage, these blinds also help in cutting down on electricity bills.

These solar energy generating solar blinds are a great option for anyone who doesn’t want to install solar panels on their house’s rooftop but still wants to reduce their power bills. As per the company’s estimates, people can reduce their electricity bills by up to 70% by using SolarGaps’ solar blinds in their home or apartment.

These solar blinds adjust the angles of the blades in accordance with the sunlight. The blinds track the position of the sun throughout the day and adjust the panes accordingly generate ample electricity to power all devices in your home. What makes these blinds so versatile is that fit the bill in case you are living in a rented accommodation. The product helps renters cut down energy wastage, save on electricity bills and make a transition to a lifestyle with reduced dependence on energy.

Designed to look like traditional window blinds, the product uses smart technology and are lined with photovoltaic modules. These modules generate the maximum amount of electricity during the day when its demand and price are at their peak. Once installed on a window, SolarGaps’ solar blinds can generate over 100 MW of power per 10sq ft of a window—which is equivalent to the electricity required to power 30 LED bulbs and three Apple MacBooks. To get a clearer picture, imagine these blinds have been installed on a window of a three-room house, with the windows facing towards the south. These blinds would be able to generate around 600 watt-hours or 4 kilowatts per day. The energy generation can be up to 10 times more in an office building or a retail space. In addition, any extra energy harnessed can be saved by the user in a battery or even sold to the utility grid. This helps you take advantage of the daily fluctuations and peak load while using electricity.

They are currently available in two colors—silver and black. They are the first of its kind window blinds in the world to generate electricity from sunlight to power up home devices. Another advantage of using the product is that you can get the blinds customized as per the dimensions of the window. One can also schedule the settings in such a manner that the blinds open at a particular time via an app. If you want the blinds to open when you wake up or close when you got to bed, all you have to do is to adjust its settings via the SolarGaps app, which is available for both Android and iOS devices.

The product is a brainchild of Yevgen Erik who designs eco-friendly houses and often used to install blinds in office buildings. The idea for SolarGaps solar blinds occurred to him while he was putting up blinds in a client’s office. Erik said that he went outside and spent an entire day in the field, studying how sunflowers followed the sun.

With some impressive research, Erik deduced that solar modules were the cheapest and most effective sources of energy. He later experimented to replicate the process of sunflower following the sun at different times of the day, using blinds.

Another interesting product offered by the company is the SolarGaps Slat which is a perfect device for charging smartphones and tablets using solar energy.  The slat features ample solar cells to charge a USB device when kept under direct sunlight.

Image credit and further information is available on Kickstarter:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1170840477/solargaps-smart-solar-blinds