Whether it's climate change or simply daunting energy bills, nearly everyone is demanding more efficient, greener new buildings. Insulation is therefore a hot topic, especially when it comes to aerogel—not only one of the lightest materials available, but also one of the highest insulators. (It also held 13 other Guinness World Records in 2011.) Originally developed by NASA, a commercial spinoff has recently emerged in the form of Thermablock, specifically designed for residential and commercial uses
Sweating rooftops
Though the idea of a "sweaty" building sounds rather ... unpleasant ... this new material from researchers at ETH-Zurich that aims to make your building perspire is anything but. The rooftop material absorbs water when it rains and only releases it when the heat is raised to a certain temperature. The resulting evaporation will in turn keep the house cool—much like the process of human sweat.