Heat-storing gels regulate building temp to slash energy bills
By Omar Kardoudi
October 18, 2026
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Heat-storing gels regulate building temp to slash energy bills
Texas A&M University College of Engineering researchers have developed a promising new material that could revolutionize the way we build and heat our homes: salogels. These are polymer gels loaded with hydrated salts, which trap water inside their crystals.
Salogels work on the same principle as an ice cube keeping a drink cold – they absorb heat as they melt (a process known as a phase change) and release it as they solidify. Compared to traditional wax-based phase change materials, salogels can store more than twice as much heat per volume, and they are also safer and more affordable, as they utilize a byproduct of soda ash production.
The researchers envision salogels being used in a variety of ways within buildings, from roofs and walls to windows and even hot-water and AC modules.
"Beyond buildings, salogels are eyed for batteries, electronics and icy surfaces," says [source omitted] from Texas A&M.
Initial tests show great promise, indicating that salogels could significantly reduce the energy our buildings use on heating and cooling.
[Read the full study](link to original article) for more details.