A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) have developed energy-efficient bricks.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
GUWAHATI A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) have developed energy-efficient bricks designed to maintain buildings naturally cool, providing an answer for sustainable building.
The researchers are Bitupan Das, Urbashi Bordoloi, Pushpendra Singh, and Pankaj Kalita of the IIT-G’s School of Energy Science and Engineering and the School of Agro and Rural Technology. Their examine has been printed within the newest challenge of the Journal of Energy Storage.
“In modern architecture, most infrastructures rely on air conditioning systems to maintain indoor temperatures, especially during the summer. While these systems are effective, they consume substantial electricity and contribute significantly to carbon emissions and environmental degradation,” an IIT-G assertion learn.
The IIT-G researchers centered on addressing the problem of warmth coming into constructing interiors by way of the roof and partitions, thus rising the utilization of air conditioners. They redesigned standard bricks to minimise warmth achieve.
The team utilized Phase Change Materials (PCMs), a kind of substance that may take in and launch warmth throughout section transitions. An instance of such substances is wax, which absorbs warmth because it melts and releases it upon solidification.
“Similarly, when embedded in building components, the PCMs absorb excess heat during the day and release it when the temperature drops. This way, the indoor temperature remains stable throughout the day,” the researchers defined.
The team discovered OM35 to be essentially the most appropriate PCM for the analysis. This materials melts at round 35 levels Celsius, making it significantly appropriate for decent, humid areas the place temperatures vary from 28 to 38 levels Celsius.
Prof Kalita underlined using PCM in creating climate-responsive infrastructure. “The developed bio-composite-filled Autoclaved Aerated Concrete brick is highly stable in shape and offers adequate mechanical strength in hot and humid conditions, making it suitable for infrastructure development,” he stated.
Leaking problem
The researchers addressed the problem of PCMs leaking throughout the melting section by integrating the PCM with biochar to develop a composite materials. Biochar is a carbon-rich materials that serves as a supporting matrix, holding the molten PCM in place and stopping leakage whereas enhancing thermal conductivity.
“PCM-embedded bricks are capable of better thermal management in terms of temperature reduction than conventional bricks, as they can absorb and store heat during the day and release it gradually when the temperature drops, helping maintain more stable indoor conditions compared to conventional bricks,” Prof Kalita stated.
However, the team stated that modern applied sciences like PCM-based thermal bricks usually fail to achieve the market. “This is not due to poor performance, but because of practical barriers such as high initial cost, difficulty in large-scale manufacturing, lack of standardisation, and low awareness among builders and developers. Additionally, the absence of real-world demonstration projects reduces industry confidence,” the team stated.
“For successful lab-to-consumer transition, it is essential to reduce costs, validate performance through pilot projects, obtain certifications, and collaborate with industry stakeholders. Policy support and awareness programmes can further accelerate adoption,” they added. EOM
Published – March 28, 2026 01:18 am IST
