HIGH-PERFORMANCE, LOW-TECH
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    • Styrene Reuse
    • Thermal Reflection
    • ETFE Rigidification
    • Phase Change Materials
    • Polar Reflection
    • Cavity Depth Variation
    • Vapor Permeability
    • Algae Facade
    • Moisture Buffering
    • Engineered Geometries
    • Recycled Desiccant Materials
    • Living Wall
    • Solar Shading Facades
    • SHADESin.reACTION
    • Low-Fab Dehumidification
    • Breathing Wall
    • Urban Heat Island
    • Acoustical Design
    • Latent Heat of PCM's
    • Insulative Qualities of Air
  • About
  • Lectures
    • Building Science Basics I
    • Building Science Basics II
    • Research & Literature Review
    • Scales of Fabrication
    • Electronics
    • Methodology
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  • Assignments
    • 1: Research Proposal
    • 2: Prototype
    • 3: Data
    • 4: Design Proposal
    • Presentation & Paper
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    • Thermal Scavenger Hunt
    • Balance Point Game
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Polar Reflection
​

​​1. Research Question

Can applying polarized film to a transparent medium reduce solar heat gain?

2. Problem Statement

As window to wall ratios continue to shrink, building performance plummets. It is difficult to reduce heat loss through through glazing, but solar heat gain can be addressed. Current solutions can be effective at mitigating heat gain, but either block the occupants view or are costly in their installation and upkeep. Polarization has not been extensively explored as a system for reducing heat gain, and I believe it has potential to do so. 
​
3. Objectives

1. How well does polarization reduce heat gain?
2. How effective is polarization with invisible wave lengths?
3. What factors, like radiant heat from the light source are playing into the data?
​
4. Hypothesis

​When a single plane of polarized film is used it will reduce heat gain by 50%, When two planes are used, one fixed in the vertical position and the other free to rotate, it will reduce heat gain by (.555x)+50%. Where x = each degree of rotation of the second plane. 
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Materials

Box

(6) 8"x8"x1/2" pieces of plywood
(4) 3"Ø pieces of plexiglass
(4) 3"Ø sheets of polarized film

Wood housing for plexi
​Misc. hardware

​


Light Source
(1) Adjustable light fixture
(1) 150W Incandescent light bulb  


Equipment
(1) Temperature sensor
​(1) Spectrometer

Background

Construction

Methodology

Results

  • Projects
    • Environment Box
    • Passive Refrigeration
    • Water Cooling
    • Fog Catching
    • Roof Geometries
    • Optimal Insulation
    • Cooler Windcatcher
    • Green Machine
    • Mitigating Humidity
    • Convective Air Flow
    • Styrene Reuse
    • Thermal Reflection
    • ETFE Rigidification
    • Phase Change Materials
    • Polar Reflection
    • Cavity Depth Variation
    • Vapor Permeability
    • Algae Facade
    • Moisture Buffering
    • Engineered Geometries
    • Recycled Desiccant Materials
    • Living Wall
    • Solar Shading Facades
    • SHADESin.reACTION
    • Low-Fab Dehumidification
    • Breathing Wall
    • Urban Heat Island
    • Acoustical Design
    • Latent Heat of PCM's
    • Insulative Qualities of Air
  • About
  • Lectures
    • Building Science Basics I
    • Building Science Basics II
    • Research & Literature Review
    • Scales of Fabrication
    • Electronics
    • Methodology
    • Graphical Excellence
    • Moving Graphics
  • Assignments
    • 1: Research Proposal
    • 2: Prototype
    • 3: Data
    • 4: Design Proposal
    • Presentation & Paper
  • Workshops
    • Thermal Scavenger Hunt
    • Balance Point Game
    • Advanced Shop Training
    • Basic Electronics
    • Advanced Electronics
    • Excel & Illustrator
    • Data Visualization
    • Videos
    • Animations
  • Syllabus
  • Resources