Many building operators are looking to lower their carbon footprint and become more environmentally friendly, and products like smart glass can help achieve this goal. On average, buildings account for 27% of annual global CO2 emissions, but there are products that can help save the environment and your money in the long term.

This innovative product is also called dynamic glass, which means its tint levels can be adjusted automatically. It works with thin layers of metal oxides, and when electricity is acted on these layers, they change color levels, causing ions to move within them.

        What does this mean for architecture?

According to research, installing smart glass in a building could mean savings of around 20% on heating and cooling bills. Allowing the glass to take advantage of natural light is key. When you want more natural light to come in to heat the building, you can limit the tint. Conversely, in the summer months, when the sun hits the building, the tint increases, meaning some solar radiation is blocked, reducing the amount of heat coming in.

Essentially, it is an aid to the heating and cooling system, helping to offset some of the heating and cooling costs, and by allowing the HVAC system to work smarter, it can also reduce equipment costs. Smart glass can also help with overall loads. If more buildings in the area invest in this system, it can also collectively help offset peak loads and reduce the burden on the grid.

The technology is still evolving, with added access to the cloud, enabling users to monitor and adjust hues remotely.This part of the innovation can also help users become smarter about environmental protection and provide data to improve efficiency.

Smart glass can also help save time and money on cleaning and maintaining building interiors, as it can eliminate the need for blinds or shades throughout the building.

What are the downsides? As always, new technology can be costly; depending on the building, this can be a large project. However, keeping a close eye on technology like smart glasses will allow you to plan and budget accordingly over time.

         By investing in technologies like smart glass to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings, we can become greener while reducing long-term costs.