Tiles

Materials

"Elephant skin" mycelium tiles keep buildings chilled – and look cool, too

Oyster mushrooms and bits of bamboo sound more at home on a Chinese menu than stuck to the wall, but scientists have used this mix to make aesthetically pleasing tiles with bumps and textures that help regulate temperature much like elephant skin does.

UCSB's adaptive roof tiles are actuated by the phase changes of wax, and can passively stabilize room temperature to radically reduce the energy cost of heating and cooling

Technology

Wax-actuated adaptive tiles radically cut heating and cooling energy

Using a temperature-driven "wax motor," researchers have created an adaptive roof tile system that helps keep a room at a comfortable 18 °C (65 °F). It delivers an extraordinary 3.1X reduction in cooling energy consumption, and 2.6X for heating.

A tiling of a 13-sided shape called the Hat, the first known example of a shape that can be tiled without gaps or overlaps, and without repeating a pattern even across an infinite plane

Science

Hat trick: Newly discovered shape solves 60-year mathematical mystery

A new shape has been discovered which would make for a pretty unique set of bathroom tiles. Nicknamed “the Hat,” the 13-sided shape can tesselate with itself without ever repeating a pattern, solving a 60-year-old mathematical mystery.

The Trashpresso is a semi-portable recycling center, that can turn discarded plastic and fabric waste into tiles

Environment

Portable "Trashpresso" up-cycling plant transforms trash into tiles

Isolated communities often lack garbage disposal infrastructure, meaning it’s hard to either truck out the trash or process it on-site. The Trashpresso is designed to lighten the load a little, as a semi-portable, solar-powered plant that turns trash into tiles.

The tiles have a new triangular design that is said to maximize energy and data capture

Electronics

Electricity-generating paving tiles get some smarts

UK tech firm Pavegen has been harvesting pedestrian power with floor tiles that convert the kinetic energy of footsteps into electricity since 2009. Today, the firm has launched a new version of the tiles and, in addition to being more efficient, they are able to capture footfall data.

Good Thinking

Pavegen harvests energy from Paris Marathon runners

Pavegen Systems and Schneider Electric partnered to install energy harvesting tiles across a stretch of the course at the 2013 Paris Marathon.

Solar3D will examine the potential for its 3D solar cells to be used in solar roof tiles - not pictured (Image: Shutterstock)

Environment

3D solar cells could be integrated into solar roof tiles

California-based company Solar3D has announced it is conducting a study to explore the potential for integrating its 3D solar cell technology directly into roof tiles.

Pavegen tiles harvest kinetic energy from pedestrian traffic

Environment

Pavegen tiles harvest energy from footsteps

Pavegen tiles hopes to power areas high in foot traffic with their award-winning design.

UrbanTiles making a dramatic effect on a city's landscape

Electronics

UrbanTile window blind concept fuses solar panel with an OLED screen

UrbanTiles are a window blind concept that incorporate a small solar panel that can be flipped to reveal a light emitting OLED screen.

Soltech Energy glass tiles help cut energy bills

Around The Home

Glass roof tiles let a little sunshine in to cut heating bills

Glass tiles from Swedish company, Soltech Energy, allow the sun to heat air that is used to heat the house and cut energy bills.

Games

The board game V2.0

Queen's University's Human Media Lab has unveiled a board game where images are projected onto the cards.

The 'Thermeleon' roof tile changes from white to black depending on its temperature

Environment

Thermeleon roof tiles make saving energy as clear as black and white

A team of MIT graduates has demonstrated a thermally-activated, color-changing, roofing material called “Thermeleon” that helps reflect heat in summer and absorb heat in winter.