This year marks the 10th anniversary of commercial installations for the world’s leading electrochromic glass product. While a decade may appear to be a long time, it is a relatively short horizon for the construction industry. Awareness for electrochromic (EC) glass has been building during this time, yet there is still opportunity for growth. This paper defines and explains EC technology and discusses its many benefits, with the goal of helping architects, building owners and contractors understand its value for their projects.
During the past decade, SAGE has gained a wealth of knowledge about daylighting from those who design—and occupy—buildings. More than ever, the goals of using EC glass in commercial and institutional buildings are improving the built environment and reducing humans’ impact on the natural environment.
Electrochromic glazing has been shown to save energy, reduce CO2 emissions and contribute to occupant comfort and productivity in buildings. The energy and sustainability benefits are well established in industry literature and field studies. Architects are increasingly adopting electrochromic, or “dynamic,” glazing as an efficient all-in-one means of providing solar control in commercial and institutional buildings.
The use of EC glazing is expected to increase dramatically in the near future. Industry reports suggest that the market could grow to more than $700 million by 2020. Market growth is being driven by an increasing awareness of the technology, a growing emphasis on sustainable solutions in the construction industry, and reduced pricing as additional capacity comes on line.