There’s nothing quite as alluring as natural sunlight flowing through a window, bringing life and warmth into an indoor space. But, as we all know, too much of a good thing can quickly become a nuisance.

We’ve all been there: the blinding glare that makes it impossible to focus on anything other than the reflection on our computer screen or the sweltering heat that leaves us feeling trapped indoors. So it’s no wonder many of us resort to cranking up the A/C or drawing the shades to block the sun’s rays.

Ironically enough, the solution to this age-old problem was invented nearly four decades ago.

We’re talking about smart windows.

Imagine a window that can change like a chameleon, easily adjusting to the weather outside, as well as your personal preferences. This innovative technology uses specialized materials that selectively block out specific wavelengths of light, creating a customized environment for every person inside.

And though these smart windows came to fruition over 40 years ago, many say they are the future of energy-efficient buildings! These cutting-edge windows use advanced technology to selectively block or let in heat, making them a game-changer for reducing energy consumption. 

They’ve already made waves in cars, planes, and boats, and now they’re being found in buildings too. Though the initial cost may be high, researchers are working hard to make smart windows more accessible to everyone. With buildings consuming a significant portion of energy in the US, smart windows may potentially reduce energy loss by a staggering 35%. 

So, will smart windows be one of the new industry trends that becomes a future norm?

The History of Smart Windows

In the 1980s, a group of brilliant scientists from California’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Sweden’s Chalmers University of Technology aimed to create more energy-efficient window materials. 

Their eureka moment? A window that could adapt its tint in real-time. 

And who could forget Claes-Göran Granqvist, one of the original researchers who coined the term “smart windows” and cemented its place in tech history? It didn’t take long for their vision to come to life. In 1984, the world’s first smart window was born, and the future of energy-efficient buildings was forever changed.

Smart windows have come a long way since their first prototypes. The early models were tiny and used small electrical jolts to change the glass from clear to dark. Today, they use a variety of innovative materials that react to ultraviolet light, heat, and magnetism to manipulate how light passes through them. 

Researchers are constantly exploring new materials to improve the technology even further.

The Two Types of Smart Windows

Electrochromic Windows

The earliest smart windows made use of electrochromic materials that changed in response to voltage or electrical current. These windows had five layers, including dual electrode layers and an internal, ion-filled electrolyte layer.

Applying voltage caused a reaction that created a tint, blocking visible and infrared light, while reverse voltage initiated transparency again. 

Today, you can find electrochromic in smart windows found in aircraft windows, boat windows, display panels, privacy screens, and car sunroofs. While they give users the ability to control tint levels manually, installing the electrodes and wires requires electricians, driving up costs. 

However, there are now cheaper production methods in development.

Thermochromic Windows

Thermochromic windows are another type of smart window that instead change based on fluctuations in heat. The beauty of these smart windows is that they’re simpler than electrochromic windows, as they don’t require power supplies or complex wiring. Harlan Byker, a materials scientist and founder of Pleotint, a company that makes dynamic glass for windows, notes that vanadium dioxide (VO2) is a commonly used thermochromic material.

At higher temps, VO2 reflects more infrared light while giving visible light the right of way, keeping a room cooler. However, mixing VO2 with other substances can reduce its reflection temperature and diminish its light-reflecting capacity. 

In turn, the newest generation of thermochromic materials can absorb light rather than reflect it, allowing for a tint that is more continuous as temperatures increase, much like electrochromic windows.

According to materials scientist Long Yi, different temperature-responsive materials have their own set of challenges. For example, some materials, such as hydrogel, are excellent at decreasing heat. Still, their tint is too opaque for most, while others are transparent but don’t provide the same level of energy efficiency, such as VO2. 

However, scientists are continuously researching and developing smart windows with specific applications in mind, such as smart windows that have the ability to store and release heat when it isn’t as hot out to save energy costs.

New Innovations In Smart Windows

To create energy-efficient windows, scientists have developed hydro-liquid, a mixture of hydrogel and water placed between two glass panes. 

The hydrogel expands when temperatures fall below 86 degrees, altering the glass so that it becomes transparent again. When the temperature rises above the threshold, the chains of polymers crumple, creating a tint that absorbs and releases heat over time, reducing energy consumption by around 35%

Long Yi has also introduced a unique window that blocks infrared light in the summer while allowing heat to radiate out and does the opposite when winter rolls along, reducing energy consumption by around 15% compared to current glass coatings.

The One Major Obstacle – Cost

While researchers have no doubt that smart windows will provide energy savings, cost is a major obstacle to their widespread adoption. According to an overview from 2016, electrochromic windows are far more costly than regular windows due to complicated installation and powering systems. While thermochromic windows are more cost-effective, they do not provide the same initial cost-effectiveness as traditional windows. 

As a result, many consumers prefer cheaper options, foregoing the energy-efficient offerings that smart windows provide. Smart windows need to become more affordable for widespread adoption, according to electrical engineer and materials scientist Carl Lampert. 

Incentivizing smart windows through state or federal rebate programs and providing consumers with necessary information on their benefits could help. Researchers are working on developing more durable and cost-effective smart windows, but it may take up to a decade for them to become widely available. Lampert envisions a future where smart windows are as easy to find as any other home improvement product.

Looking to a Brighter (Yet Cooler) Future

Here at Advantage Drafting, we’re always looking to the future of the glazing industry! 

Nothing excites us quite like innovation, and even though we know there might be some obstacles ahead, we’re always keen to be at the forefront of positive change.

If you want to stay ahead of the game, let’s work together to elevate your next project. Request a free quote today!