New Nanotechnology for Vintage Single-Pane Windows: ARPA-E’s SHIELD Research Program
Research and Technology Forum, August 30, 2016
Single-pane windows are a legacy of an earlier era of building construction. Despite their inefficiency compared to modern panes, they are still fairly common even in a cool climate such as Syracuse’s. There’s enough energy to be saved by improving them that ARPA-E, one of the newest agencies in the U.S. Department of Energy, has just launched the “SHIELD” program of fourteen research projects. This talk introduced the intricate science underlying the performance of the apparently simple single pane window. Dr. Blanchet then described the very challenging materials developments that are needed to improve them. The same developments in science may also lead to new technologies for windows in new construction. Finally, Dr. Blanchet provided a narration for the development of SHIELD as an example of how ARPA-E funds energy research, and summarized the portfolio of windows research projects that have been funded by ARPA-E.
Presenter:
Dr. Graciela Blanchet
Technology-To-Market Advisor at the Advanced Research Projects Agaency, ARPA-E, U.S. Department of Energy
Dr. Graciela Blanchet helps prepare breakthrough energy technologies for transition from lab to market, specifically focusing on renewable energy and carbon footprint mitigation.
Prior to joining ARPA-E, Blanchet served as the Chief Technical Officer at NanoTerra for five years. While in this role, Blanchet recruited and hired top-tier scientists and guided them in the process of development and commercialization of functional nanomaterials, water purification reactors, and high resolution printing of silicon-photovoltaic cells. Prior to working at NanoTerra, Blanchet spent much of her career at DuPont where she held multiple positions. While at DuPont, Blanchet led the printable electronics and laser imaging efforts developing technologies that have since been successfully commercialized.
Blanchet holds her Ph.D. in Physics from Brown University and a B.S. in Physics from the University of Buenos Aires. Blanchet has more than 60 patents and has published more than 65 academic papers.
