New material may help maintain acceptable temperature in buildings

A patent has been filed by the University of Nottingham Ningbo China for a material that uses "latent heat" to stabilise temperatures.    Ice in an ice filled drink holds the liquid at 0 degrees centigrade until all the ice has melted.  This material acts in the same way.  The melting/freezing point can be adjusted to suit - eg 22 degrees.  Excess heat is absorbed as the material melts, or if the temperature starts to fall below 22 degrees, the energy contained in the liquid phase  helps keep the temperature up.  If the price can be reduced, the material could be incorporated into the walls and fabric of a building - in effect providing thermal mass with far less mass.

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/pressreleases/2011/july/heatregulatingbuildingmaterial.aspx