Smart buildings – No. 35 (Jan. 2012) - a podcast by EMPA - Swiss Federal Laboratory for Materials Science & Technology

Experiments with buildings? NEST makes it possible! The planned building lab on the Empa campus should serve, quite literally, as a platform for new ideas in construction and sustainable, energy-efficient solutions. Research modules for future residential and office rooms are installed on each open floor. Building services are supplied centrally from the inner core.
Moreover, the current focus presents innovative ideas and findings: Smart glass, which becomes dark, translucent or UV-reflective at the push of a button, offers considerable advantages in building tech-nologies. With the help of a database and thermodynamics software, the properties of concrete can be calculated in advance and optimized accordingly. Empa researchers are investigating replicas of walls from older buildings in the lab to test and improve innovative interior insulating materials and renovation techniques. Not only homeowners will benefit from optimally insulated buildings – but Switzerland’s carbon footprint, too.

And also in this issue:Instruments from the fungus laboratory: Bio-tuning gives new violins the sound of a true Stradivarius. --- “Steam blasting” with real gold: Shiny threads for haute couture through plasma coating.

Further episodes of EmpaNews – Magazine for Research and Innovation

Further podcasts by EMPA - Swiss Federal Laboratory for Materials Science & Technology

Website of EMPA - Swiss Federal Laboratory for Materials Science & Technology