Problem
Last summer, I came across one of the most shocking news I had ever read. A 10-month old girl was found dead after being left in a hot vehicle for several hours in Houston. This was just one of the MANY cases of lives being taken due to interior car temperatures reaching extreme levels. Living in the southern region of the United States, I had first-hand experience of the issues that solar radiation was causing.
When it is 90 degrees outside, a car’s interior can reach 138 degrees, and over time, the heat not only creates fatal situations, but also causes long-term damage to the human body, including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and dehydration. As a result, many people need to use excessive cooling to reach bearable temperatures. This makes a painful transition into the car and slows down people’s hectic schedules since they have to wait for their AC to bring the temperatures down. Exacerbating the issue, car AC can significantly increase fuel consumption by 20% and release high amounts of carbon dioxide and other harmful gasses into the atmosphere. Clearly, the excessive use of AC is a temporary and unsustainable solution to the issue of car overheating, contributing to the carbon emissions that cause global warming. This strongly inspired me to create a product that could effectively combat extreme car temperatures while still being environmentally-friendly.
Your Solution
Through market research of current solutions and interviewing over 250 parents, teachers, and community members, I learned 78% used sun visors and most of them claimed they were either ineffective, had cumbersome setup, or were of poor quality. Therefore, I sought to create a convenient, durable innovation that could successfully address these pain points.
SunShutters is an autonomous solar car shade system that regulates interior car temperatures in a sustainable fashion and is installed on the car’s front windshield. With a simple press, shades begin to cover the windshield, with solar panels layered in them to produce renewable energy to power the system. The fan system helps to circulate inside air flow, further lowering temperatures. Its mobile app gives users remote control of the shades movement, fan speeds, and data on temperature and energy levels.
The SunShutter is not only innovative, but also the first step into sustainable car accessories, solving two major issues: interior car temperatures and sustainable energy. Compared to traditional manual shades, SunShutters requires minimal user input, allowing drivers to effortlessly incorporate sustainability into their lifestyles. This makes it a groundbreaking solution for drivers who are looking to make a positive impact on the environment while still enjoying all the benefits of modern automotive technology.
Founding Story
Before diving into this project, I wanted to understand my community’s view on how global warming was affecting us. Through interviews, I commonly heard how overheating in cars was affecting people's daily routines via overusing AC. More importantly, I learned how it was endangering lives. A mother shared the heart-wrenching story of how her son had suffered from heat exhaustion after being left in the car for just a few minutes while she ran into a store. This conversation proved to me that SunShutters had not only the potential to promote a sustainable lifestyle, but also save lives.
Your Impact
While SunShutters is still in the piloting phase, it has been verified by many engineers, and I have created many iterations of its design. Working alongside a material science professor at UT Dallas, I created an effective shade and optimized the configuration of solar panels. I have also validated the mechanical system with a mechanical engineer at NASA. However, I hope to continue this outreach, and not just with local universities and industries, but also my community to get feedback, gain more funding through competitions and investors, and bring awareness to sustainable habits.
In the upcoming months, SunShutter’s short-term goals are hosting at least 10 community demo events, receiving feedback from/interviewing at least 250 more individuals, and finding a driven group of local changemakers to develop the company. With these interactions, I hope to build SunShutter’s brand, activate my community, and improve my design. As the sustainable technology and car shade market have risen in recent years, SunShutter plans to enter the market in the next year and is projected to earn profit and become self-sufficient in the first 2 years of business, with plans to expand its distribution nationwide. After SunShutters has gained popularity in the next few decades, I plan to partner with car companies to have the SunShutter built into every vehicle, broadening its impact globally.
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