Project aims to create 'smart' greenhouse

Cleveland Botanical Garden and Kent St. Univ.'s Liquid Crystal Institute launched a research project last week to explore the potential of liquid crystal technology for creating more sustainable, energy-efficient greenhouses. Officials from both organizations unveiled the 2 greenhouses that will be used in the 1st phase of the project; 1 contains liquid crystal panels and the other, a control, has plain glass. A demonstration revealed how the panes "switch" to manage the amount of sunlight that enters the greenhouse.