AdrianBryan Drexel University researchers developed building materials inspired by elephant and jackrabbit ears that can passively regulate temperature. The concrete contains vascular networks filled with paraffin-based phase-change material that absorbs heat when warm and releases it when cool. Buildings consume nearly 40% of all energy, with half spent on temperature control. The most effective design uses diamond-shaped channel patterns that slow surface heating/cooling to 1-1.25°C per hour while maintaining structural integrity. This biomimetic approach could significantly reduce HVAC energy demands, addressing the 63% of building energy loss through walls, floors, and ceilings.
