This Kickstarter wants to turn your window blinds into solar power generators

2017-05-11T12:33:00-04:00

Let’s say you want to switch to solar—for ecological or economic reasons—but are a renter. Installing solar panels on your roof isn’t really an option unless you get permission from your landlord. Enter Solar Gaps, or photovoltaic solar blinds that can be installed easily, and temporarily, on any window. According to their Kickstarter, Solar Gaps can reduce your electricity bill by up to 70%

The smart blinds track the sun throughout the day and adjust their position accordingly. They can generate up to 100W-150W of renewable energy per 10 sq. ft. (≈ 1 m2) of a window, which can power three MacBooks. They also are still regular blinds, and so can reduce energy by shading the interior to lower AC costs. Moreover, the Solar Gaps integrate with existing smart home tech, like Google Home, and can be controlled with your smart phone.

It’s a pretty nifty idea, and their implementation is pretty easy to imagine. As of now, they have the look of photovoltaics, so they don’t necessarily blend i...

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This Kickstarter wants to turn your window blinds into solar power generators