Smart Glass: A Premium Product with Endless Design Possibilities
by Marcy Marro | January 2, 2020 12:00 am
Smart glass solves these challenges and can be used in a variety of settings, from offices, to higher education facilities, to hospitals. By tinting automatically in response to outdoor conditions, smart glass systems block heat and glare to provide abundant daylighting, improve energy efficiency and create comfortable indoor environments for occupants—all while giving architects the design freedom they value.
How Does Smart Glass Work?
Smart glass is fabricated with glass that has been coated with multiple layers of ceramic material. These layers are microscopic—less than 1/50th the thickness of a human hair. When a low-voltage current is applied, lithium ions transfer from one electrochromic layer to another, causing the glass to tint. Reversing the voltage polarity causes the ions to return to their original layer, and the glass returns to its clear state.
In a darkened tint state, smart glass reduces heat gain and glare. In the clear state, it gives occupants access to natural daylight and solar energy. Many smart glass products can be automatically controlled using sensors and model-based intelligence to optimize comfort. User control is often available through wall touch panels, a mobile app, and building management system (BMS) integration.
What are the Benefits of Smart Glass?
Architects have a much greater range of design possibilities when working with smart glass. Today’s products can be configured in both double- and triple-pane IGUs. Typically, products can tint in hues of blue, gray, and green, but some can even be customized. They can be cut in shapes such as rectangles, trapezoids, parallelograms, and triangles, and manufactured in sizes as small as 48 inches or as large as 10 feet. Additionally, some of today’s smart glass solutions have become so advanced that they offer gradual in-pane tinting, giving the building’s façade a more natural, seamless look.
One of the greatest benefits of using smart glass, however, is its impact on the building occupant. As people increasingly spend more time indoors, smart glass gives occupants a stronger connection to nature through unobstructed views and daylight. Research has shown that access to natural views is linked to improved mood, productivity, and overall well-being. Further, by tinting automatically in response to the sun, smart glass can eliminate up to 91% of solar heat and 99% of glare, optimizing thermal and visual comfort.
Smart glass also has a positive impact on the environment. Running on minimal electricity and reducing peak energy demand up to 26% compared to low-E glass, smart glass is extremely energy efficient. Installing it in a building can help achieve green labels such as LEED, WELL and even net zero energy.
Smart glass solves these challenges and can be used in a variety of settings, from offices, to higher education facilities, to hospitals. By tinting automatically in response to outdoor conditions, smart glass systems block heat and glare to provide abundant daylighting, improve energy efficiency and create comfortable indoor environments for occupants—all while giving architects the design freedom they value.
How is Smart Glass Incorporated into the Building Project?
Smart glass is a complete system, so whether installed in a new building or during a renovation, manufacturers typically provide field operations project managers to support customers and ensure success before, during, and after installation.
Prior to installation, manufacturers assist architects with design details for glazing and zoning, framing systems, wire routing, and control system configuration. Many smart glass companies also use performance modeling tailored to the project and climate to help architects and building owners forecast how much energy they may save.
The manufacturer’s field operations team often organizes pre-construction meetings to train and align construction managers, glaziers, and electricians. The field operations team is on-site to commission the smart glass and provide testing and tuning. Many project managers provide post-installation support as well. In fact, some smart glass products have a 10-year warranty, depending on the building application. The electronics, electrochromic functionality, and coatings typically carry a five-year warranty.
Why Choose Smart Glass?
When comparing smart glass to static glass, the most common question involves price. Smart glass does come at a premium, but consider this: would you pay more for a smartphone knowing its perks and benefits, or settle for a much cheaper flip phone? For most, that’s not even a question. The same analogy can be applied to smart and static glass.
Furthermore, total cost of ownership should be taken into account. Static glass often requires additional budget for blinds, exterior sunshades, larger HVAC systems, increased energy usage, and peak demand charges. Smart glass is an all-in-one solution that provides a return on investment in the long run.
With smart glass as one piece of a sustainable and people-centric design, hospitals can help patients heal faster, employers can attract better talent and increase productivity, and higher education facilities can provide a better learning environment for students. And in commercial real estate, developers are finding that tenants demand—and are willing to pay for—forward-thinking buildings that prioritize sustainability.
Jordan Doria is the senior channel marketing manager at SAGE Electrochromics Inc., Faribault, Minn. To learn more, visit sageglass.com[1].
- sageglass.com: http://sageglass.com
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