Elephant ear-inspired cement could make buildings cooler, save energy

Researchers at Drexel University have developed an innovative cement-based building material inspired by the heat-regulating ears of jackrabbits and elephants. This material incorporates a network of tiny, paraffin-filled channels—referred to as vasculature—that passively absorb and release heat to help regulate surface temperatures of walls, floors, and ceilings. The paraffin acts as a phase-change material (PCM), absorbing heat when melting and releasing heat when solidifying, thus reducing the need for active heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and addressing the significant energy consumption of buildings, nearly 40% of total energy use globally. The team combined a specially printed polymer matrix with concrete to create the internal vascular system, selecting paraffin with a melting temperature around 18°C to optimize performance in colder climates, with potential for adaptation to warmer regions. Testing various channel patterns and thicknesses revealed that a diamond-shaped grid of channels provided the best balance between mechanical strength and thermal regulation. This bio-inspired approach