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KSU technology goes 'green' Liquid crystal research used to regulate greenhouses

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David O'Brien
May 1, 2008

By Dave O'Brien

Record-Courier staff writer

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Botanical Gardens and Kent State University on Wednesday unveiled a collaborative effort aimed at transforming the future of greenhouses and green thumbs.

The use of KSU-developed liquid crystal technology to create greenhouse windows that can be made transparent or opaque using a simple electrical current is the "first phase of an exciting collaboration," said John West, KSU's vice president for research.

"Or, as I like to call it: 'Geeks meet gardeners,'" he joked with the crowd gathered at the gardens on Cleveland's University Circle for a demonstration of the technology.

By running up to 65 volts of electricity through specialized panes of glass sandwiched around liquid crystals, the crystals align to allow more or less light through the panes. This allows gardeners to study the effect of temperature and light on the plants inside, next to a traditional greenhouse covered in tarps.

Brian Casteel, facilities manager for the botanical gardens, said the two test greenhouses -- one traditional and one using liquid crystal technology -- can have their panes and covering arranged to test scattered versus direct sunlight. Or it can be tied into a weather station on the facility's roof through sensors to automatically adjust the liquid crystal panes.

The technology also is energy efficient. Casteel said it only takes 65 volts of electricity to make the liquid crystals align so the panes become clear.

Researchers plan to spend the next several years tweaking the technology, West said, for the ultimate "smart" greenhouse.

"It's important to see how they work, and more importantly, how they don't work," he said.

Visitors to the botanical gardens may test the technology themselves thanks to a small educational station located inside the building's atrium, or learn more at the Web site www.cbgarden.org.

"This initiative speaks to our ongoing commitment to sustainability and conservation," said Natalie Ronayne, executive director of the botanical garden. "The energy crisis and corresponding global climate change issues call for increasing partnerships to contemplate alternatives, educate the public and push ourselves to maximize our energy conservation and minimize our footprint on the Earth."

KSU President Lester Lefton said the collaboration shows that KSU is "deeply committed to the economic recovery of Cleveland and Ohio" as well as "translating faculty research into commercially-viable products."

The project "says a lot about our willingness to think outside the box," he said. "It's a 21st century response to 'How does your garden grow?'"




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