Smart Glass Windows: What You Need To Know
Here is everything that you need to know about Smart glass windows
WHAT IS SMART GLASS WINDOWS?
Everything, it seems, is now “smart” and “connected” — Even the windows in your homes or offices also come with the smart label now.
Smart Glass Window is the world’s fastest-variable dynamic color glazing technology. The only dimmable window technology that gives users the ability to control instantly and accurately the level of brightness and darkness. It allows exceptional control of light and solar transmission, which adds to the comfort of the user and the protection of interiors. It is available in both glass and lightweight polycarbonate substrates.
The laminated glazing offers a distinctive combination of sustainability and safety. It can be controlled manually or automatically and is available in custom sizes, finished products for construction, renovation, and ‘retrofit’ projects.
The glass switches take less than a second to transform from transparent to colored, regardless of the size of the window.
This technology is the result of decades of research, the development of film and film technology.
It is possible to laminate the film on a wide variety of glass and plastic panels. These intelligent products manufactured with adjustable levels of transparency. These laminated films are more like privacy glasses.
They tend to provide privacy and disturbance-free environments in a number of places including offices, hospitals, and other public places.
SMART GLASS WINDOWS: EASILY OPERATED
You can easily operate and mobile the smart glass window. After all the technology allows control of various forms of light including visible light, UV, and IR.
Just at one switch, you can go from clear to shaded or completely opaque windows.
TYPES OF SMART GLASSES THAT ARE USED FOR SMART GLASS WINDOWS
WHICH SMART GLASS WINDOW DO YOU NEED?
- Electrochromic
- Photochromic
- Thermochromic
- Suspended-particle
- Micro-blind
- Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals
Electrochromic Glass
As the name indicates, these devices change glass properties in response to electricity. Therefore, they can control the amount of light and heat that can transmit through the glass. Once the desired level of opacity is set, no further electricity is needed to maintain it.
This change occurs slowly, but it is possible to adjust the setting as per the user’s preference. Windows on buildings, rearview mirrors, and museum display cases are examples of how effective the electrochromic smart glass are. One drawback to the technology is that it may affect the durability of the glass.
Photochromic Window Tint
Similar to electrochromic glass, an outside source has an impact on the transference of light through photochromic glass. In most cases, it is UV radiation. However, any light of sufficient intensity can have an impact on the glass.
However, unlike electrochromic glass, the transparency changes when the applied light source changes. This technology is most commonly seen in optical lenses that block the sun when outdoors, but remain clear otherwise.
Thermochromic Glass
When you apply heat, the thermochromic glass translucence changes its state. This change happens when the external temperature rises above the transition temperature and the thermochromic filter on the glass activates. It changes the state of the window in just a few minutes. This technology blocks light, heat, and glare while retaining clear views through the glass.
Suspended-Particle Glass
For opacity, the nanoparticles on this type of smart glass are randomly organized to block and absorb light. When you apply electricity, the suspended particles align to allow light to pass through. The amount of light that can pass depends on the variance of voltage. Thus, giving full control to the user. With electrically switchable smart glass, it is possible to control the voltage through photosensors, motion detectors, apps, integration with computer systems, or knobs and switches.
Micro-Blind Smart Glass
You can control this type of smart glass, micro blinds – thin, rolled metal blinds – on the glass with electricity. When there is no voltage, the rolled-blinds allow the light to pass through. However, when you apply the electricity, an electric field forms between the glass and the blinds.
This field makes the blinds unroll, thus allowing the light to pass through. This type of smart glass provides a different level of privacy too. It means you can adjust them just like regular blinds and control the light and privacy settings.
Polymer-dispersed Liquid-Crystal Glass
Dissolved liquid crystals on the polymer or glass, in this technology, harden and form droplets throughout the polymer or glass sheet, as the crystals are not compatible with the other materials. These droplets scatter the light and make the glass appear milky.
When you apply electricity, the liquid crystals align and allow light to pass through. The functioning is similar to that of the suspended-particle glass. You would see this type of smart glass mostly in bathrooms, conference rooms, and ICU areas of hospitals for privacy control.
SMART GLASS WINDOW: USAGE
The usage of smart glass windows is diverse. The most common remains as part of home exterior windows where they serve to enhance or replace the use of blinds and curtains to control privacy.
Smart glass also finds usage in homes that have large banks of windows facing south. Using a product like nanocrystal windows can reduce the heat gain in the summer and allow the heat gain in the winter.
Other interesting usages around the home include the shower glass. When the shower is not in use, you can see through the cabinet walls, however, once in use, it would become completely opaque.
Following are the places that must have these smart glass window installed:
- Office Partitions: Electrically switchable smart glass window partitions and walls add adaptability and give a “WOW” effect to interior office designs.
- Hotels: Smart glass window is rapidly becoming the smartest choice for dynamic shading and temperature control in the transportation sector.
- Hospitals: Switchable smart glass window offers the advantage of improved patient privacy in medical facilities. Also, it seems to be a blessing for the patients suffering from xeroderma pigmentosum
- Residential: Switchable smart glass windows, doors, and partitions are beginning to appear in the residential sector. To make homes more energy-efficient, solar control
- Automotive: Smart glass window becoming the smartest choice for is rapidly dynamic shading and temperature control in the transportation sector.
BENEFITS
- SPD – smart glass helps to reduce the energy costs for buildings considerably.
- Almost instant lighting control.
- Control over the exact amount of light permitted.
- Improved comfort and sheltered feeling for the user.
- A large number of light transmission levels without limiting visibility.
- Increasing safety.
- 99% reduction of ultraviolet radiation without fading the furnishing and protection against skin cancer.
- Energy-saving.
- Exceptional optical qualities.
- Reduction of equipment costs (HVAC).
- No need for window decorations, curtains, and sun blinds.
- Cost comparison with standard sun blinds and/or other smart window technologies.
- Sustainability
CONCLUSION:
Smart glass windows or smart window technology is quite impressive, but not your most cost-effective option. People even refer to this type of electric shading option as privacy glass or electronic glass. You can even call some of the smart glass technologies as the switch glass technology. This glass can replace curtains or blinds in your home as it can control the amount of light and heat coming into a room with the flick of a remote. Smart glass can be equipped with one of six different types of technologies.
Smart glass Windows with electronic shading offer a lot of ease and comfort, which is true for many other ‘smart’ products. Therefore, they have become an imperative part of modern homes. In case, you are searching for the perfect smart glass for your house, office, or any commercial property, reach out to us today.
We will provide you with all the information that you would want!
