2024 - MA_Blind

According to the US Census Bureau, Texas experienced the highest population growth in the United States from 2022 to 2023, with Dallas notably recording an increase of 8,833 individuals, totaling approximately 1.3 million residents. This growth can be attributed to affordable living costs, excellent education, and diverse job opportunities, which have attracted businesses and talent, further fueling its development. In such circumstances, Dallas, Texas needs to pay attention to its business environment.
The business environment in Dallas, Texas is facing challenges due to climate change. In 2024, a study published by ’Nature Climate Change’ indicated that global temperatures have already exceeded 1.7 degrees Celsius. Researchers suggest that if the current trend continues, temperatures could surpass 2 degrees Celsius before 2030, and could even exceed 3 degrees Celsius by the mid-2030s. Located in a humid subtropical climate region, Texas is grappling with heatwaves and power shortages due to rising temperatures. In Dallas, the humid period extends from April 29th to October 6th, lasting approximately 5.3 months as of 2023, leading to increased discomfort among residents. Furthermore, in 2023, a merciless heatwave persisted for two weeks with temperatures exceeding 44 degrees Celsius. Consequently, the increased use of air conditioning has exacerbated the recent trend of power shortages. Such conditions can diminish the efficiency of local businesses, posing obstacles to regional economic development.

Utilizing the Air-gen effect, where water molecules passing through pores smaller than 100 nanometers generate electricity, we aim to design blinds for humidity regulation. These blinds will gather the negatively charged water molecules, which accumulate more at the top surface of the material, thus generating electricity. Additionally, we plan to design sensor blinds for managing sunlight exposure, effectively preparing for heatwaves. Through these innovations, we aim to address the needs of indoor workspace users by regulating humidity and combating heat while also resolving power shortages.

The humidity-regulating blinds are designed with a transparent material incorporating nano-porous films to allow sunlight passage while controlling moisture and generating electrical energy without compromising the surrounding scenery. This design aims to harness sustainable energy, enabling the use of electricity for lighting, air conditioning, and other necessities during sunless evenings.

Inspired by the skeleton flower, the sunlight-adjusting sensor blinds adjust sunlight penetration to lower indoor temperatures and regulate unnecessary light in work environments. Similar to how skeleton flower become transparent when water touches them, these blinds remain transparent under normal conditions but turn opaque upon sensing moisture, effectively managing sunlight to enhance comfort in indoor settings.
The blinds that absorb moisture are designed to allow moisture to rise upwards as it accumulates, facilitated by making the top portion opaque to encourage the circulation of moisture. External control panels are employed to concentrate sunlight more effectively. The moisture that evaporates is transported to a location where it can be recycled through channels. Blinds that regulate sunlight take on a spotted appearance, becoming opaque to control incoming sunlight and create a pleasant indoor environment.

Through a moisture-catching mechanism integrated into the sunlight-adjusting blinds, users can customize opacity levels according to their preference, enabling precise control over where sunlight is filtered.