Solar Enclosure for Water Reuse
Rensselaer researchers have developed a water treatment system that is integrated with the faade of a building. The system includes a lens that forms part of the building faade and that guides sunlight through wastewater carrying conduits so that the wastewater is treated by the sunlight. The system therefore provides an inexpesive water treatment solution, but also increased thermal storage, as the water absorbs heat energy from the sunlight as well.