Smart Glass Controls Light & Heat Like Nothing Before It

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Port of Entry; Torrington, Wyoming

Traditional blinds and curtains have nothing on electronically tinted smart glass. Whereas curtains are an all-or-nothing solution to streaming in sunlight, and blinds obscure visibility, smart glass allows a clear view no matter the tint. Smart glass is also an energy efficient way to handle heat — the sunnier the day, the dark the tint; cloudier days, the lighter the tint. This exceptional advancement in control over how much sunlight and heat entering a building can have a significant impact on energy costs.

Siemens Wind Turbine Facility; Hutchinson, Kansas

A pretty slick example of smart glass comes from Sage Electrochromics, called SageGlass. Made from ceramic-based materials, SageGlass can be programmed to maintain certain levels of light, or the tinting can be manipulated with the push of a button.

Instead of covering windows with heavy treatments that defeat the purpose of a window in the first place, let’s look to new technologies to provide comfortable, eco-friendly buildings.

Source: Tree Hugger
Images:  SAGE Electrochromics

Chelsea (171 Posts)

Chelsea is a former newspaper reporter who has spent the past few years teaching English in Poland, Finland and Japan. When she wasn't teaching or writing, Chelsea was traveling Europe and Asia, sampling spicy street food along the way.


  • Larry Kinney

    So what happens to the radiation striking the glass in the summer. Not much is transmitted, so it must be reflected or absorbed. If absorbed, a good deal of it must be re-radiated into the envelope of the building, thereby contributing to the cooling load. If reflected, what about next door neighbors? Think Manhattan Island as well as the burbs, where there’s no shortage of vinyl siding.