As the global population has grown, so too have attempts to ensure people can live as sustainably as possible.  Whilst attention has been focused around things such as plastic waste, a team from King’s College London believe they’ve developed a new brick that will allow buildings to be more sustainable.

The team have developed a thermogalvanic brick that is able to generate electricity, just so long as the two faces of the brick are at different temperatures, which seems likely for the interior and exterior of the building.  The team believe their technology can be especially valuable in environments where access to electricity is a challenge, such as in undeveloped countries or even in refugee camps.

They reveal that access to lighting at night time has been shown to significantly improve both the productivity of people and their educational performance by extending the hours of work beyond traditional daylight hours.  It also provides access to the various electronic devices, such as laptops and smartphones that are so empowering.

As well as their electricity generating capabilities, the bricks are also stronger than normal household bricks because they utilize gelled water inside the brick and a 3D printed interior.  What’s more, the electrochemical properties of the brick improve their insulating capabilities.

Affordable energy

The team believe that their bricks can provide affordable access to sustainable energy that’s independent of the formal electrical grid, with the next step being to secure a patent for the device and conduct further testing.

“The idea is that these bricks could be 3D printed from recycled plastic, and be used to quickly and easily make something like a refugee shelter. By the simple act of keeping the occupants warmer or cooler than their surroundings, electricity will be produced, enough to provide some night time lighting, and recharge a mobile phone,” the researchers say.  “Crucially, they do not require maintenance, recharging or refilling. Unlike batteries, they store no energy themselves, which also removes risk of fire and transport restrictions.”

The notion of taking something as fundamental as the temperature difference that exists in all properties and use it to generate energy is something that could have a lasting impact on many homes in both the developing and developed world alike.  It will be fascinating to watch how the technology develops.