Window glass with dynamic shading, often called smart windows, can regulate their transparency to improve the indoor environment and reduce energy waste. When the building needs heating, sunlight is allowed to flood into the building; when the building needs cooling, the sun is blocked out. Dynamic control of window transparency becomes a part of the building regulation system.
This kind of regulation can save up to 40% of the energy spent on heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC), and simultaneously improve the comfort for the tenants in the building.
An issue that has held back the widespread implementation of this technology is that the technology in the smart glass needs power supply, which makes it more difficult and expensive to install than a regular window in the construction process of a building. Installing smart windows in an existing building has been almost impossible because of all the extra wiring that would be needed.
We are testing our transparent solar cells as a power solution for dynamic windows, which could be fully integrated into the window pane. This would make smart windows more sustainable, less expensive to install and suitable for retrofitting as well as for new construction.
With our fully integrated power solution this technology becomes more sustainable, less expensive to install and suitable for retrofitting as well as for new construction.
