Smart Window: Changing How We Experience Natural Light

 

Smart Window

Smart glass Technology

Smart glass utilize electronically tintable glass or gas to control the amount of light, solar gain and glare passing through the window. This is done through the use of low emissivity coatings and gases sealed between two panes of glass or plastic. When an electric current is applied, the coatings or gases are able to switch between clear and darkened states rapidly allowing dynamic control over permeability. Some Smart glass technologies include:

- Electrochromic glass uses materials like tungsten oxide or nickel oxide between two panes of glass. When a Smart Window electric current is applied, the materials undergo a redox reaction changing the glass from clear to dark shades. Reversing the current returns it to clear state.

- Suspended particle devices or SPDs consist of tiny polyiodide particles suspended in fluid between glass layers. An electric field causes the rod-like particles to align and block light when active or cluster randomly and allow light when inactive.

- Liquid crystal displays or LCDs utilize liquid crystals that can be arranged to selectively transmit or block light by varying the electric field across them. Large-scale LCD type Smart glass are still under development.

- Gasochromic glass sandwiches a gas layer like tungsten oxide between glass. Passing electricity ionizes the gas cloudning the glass. Turning off power de-ionizes to clear state. Offers rapid switching but requires higher voltages.

Benefits of Smart Window

Smart glass provide several advantages over conventional fixed tint or manually operated windows:

- Dynamic Control: Smart glass can gradually darken or lighten on demand instead of having a fixed tint. This allows optimized light levels based on changing conditions.

- Energy Savings: Automatically tinting to limit solar heat gain reduces AC usage in summer. In winter, they let maximum light while maintaining warmth. Studies show up to 30% savings annually.

- Glare Reduction: Smart glass can help minimize unwanted glare from the sun and bright lighting externally that causes eye strain and fatigue.

- Privacy Settings: Electrically tintable windows provide on-demand privacy by blocking views in and out. Useful in offices, homes and vehicle cabin areas.

- Automated Operation: Connected to sensors and control systems, Smart glass can automatically adjust based on solar irradiance, occupancy, time of day and user preferences without manual intervention.

Applications of Smart Window

Beyond general building and architectural uses, Smart glass find applications in the following areas:

- Commercial Buildings: Offices, hotels and conference centers benefit from on-demand light and glare control along with energy savings and privacy features. They help optimize worker comfort and productivity.

- Residences: Smart glass provide convenience, ambiance control and energy efficiency in homes. They enhance living area aesthetics, bring outside views indoors and improve solar heating/cooling performance passively.

- Healthcare Facilities: Hospitals and care centers utilize smart glazing to control natural lighting for patient recovery and circadian rhythm regulation. They suit light therapy needs as well.

- Automotive: Connected car Smart glass allow passengers to set tint levels for comfort and security independently of driver controls. Used in luxury vehicles, limos and aircraft cabin partitions.

- Horticulture: Greenhouses employ electrochromic panels to manipulate light transmission for optimal plant growth conditions while regulating temperature swings inside.

- Museums and Galleries: Precise light control through Smart glass aids display and preservation of light-sensitive artifacts from damage, discoloration and fading effects over time.

Smart glass Technologies – Industry Leaders

While substantial commercialization efforts are still underway, a few brands have emerged in the Smart glass market with viable product options:

- View Inc., formerly known as Research Frontiers, created the SPD-SmartGlass technology found in architectural and transport applications worldwide. A leading provider of large-scale Smart glass.

- SAGE Electrochromics offers dynamic dual-pane windows with thin electrochromic films for the building industry that self-generate electricity during operation.

- Gauzy, an Israeli startup, produces flexible nano-laminate Smart glass that are shape-shifting, durable and suitable for renovation projects.

- Pleotint manufactures electrochromic Smart glass and sunroofs for residential, commercial and marine market segments in North America.

- Hitachi Chemical and Asahi Glass are major Japanese players engineering gasochromic and LCD-based glazing solutions targeting industrial clients globally.

- Smart glasss Alliance is a European consortium driving innovation and cross-industry partnerships to commercialize eco-friendly electrochromic windows at scale.

As smart technologies permeate building envelopes and construction, electronically tintable windows are poised to revolutionize how daylight is harnessed and artificial lighting needs addressed sustainably well into the future. Combined with IoT integration, they will likely become mainstream features enhancing occupant experience, comfort and energy efficiency in built environments. Standard glass will gradually transform to include dynamic control properties intrinsic to Smart glass materials as manufacturing and application expertise increases.

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