Solar blinds give light to energy-efficient homes

A California-based startup has developed window blinds that power homes while still reducing electricity costs by 70 percent.

An innovative design from a California-based startup sheds new light to both window blinds and solar panels, making these fixtures versatile and visually pleasing, yet still energy-saving.

Dubbed as the world's first solar smart blinds, SolarGaps is a portable plug-and-play solar window blinds with panels that automatically adjust angles to catch more rays from the sun. It is app-, Bluetooth- and Wi-Fi-enabled, allowing users to schedule operating times, adjust other settings and monitor power generation remotely. SolarGaps connects through Google Home and Amazon Alexa, and is compatible with Nest Thermostat.

According to the developer, SolarGaps can help reduce electricity costs by 70 percent. Optimally, mounted inside or outside the window, the solar blinds can generate 50 to 100 watts per day for every single square meter of the window. This is enough to power 30 LED light bulbs or three MacBooks.

The panels of SolarGaps are made of aluminum and have undergone testing with an air gun. The blinds are durable enough to withstand extreme climates and temperatures ranging from -40 to 80 C. These can also be used manually as ordinary window blinds to deflect the sun's rays and effectively decrease air conditioning costs by 40 percent. Suitable for the home and office, the fixture adopts SunPower solar cells that boast a life span of up to 25 years.

SolarGaps has already surpassed its $50,000 goal on Kickstarter with more than a week to go.