Windows can be the weakest link in stopping home heat loss. Frames, insulation, thermal breaks, gas fills, sealing, layers, and types of glass and coatings all impact their overall performance. But before you vote them off the island and resolve to live in a cave, check out
dynamic windows.
How do dynamic windows work, and why are they cool? Some
energy efficient windows are designed to help with home heating or cooling, but just like people, most are bad multitaskers. (An awning that shades your window is great in the summer, but during the winter, you want that solar heat.)
Dynamic windows address this issue by physically changing their performance qualities, like your dad’s eyeglasses that darken in the sunlight. The same change is accomplished with dynamic windows thanks to an electronically controlled tint, adjusting by season and weather. A small electric voltage is applied to the window that causes the ions in the special layers of glass coatings to move, increasing or decreasing the tint.
The emerging technology behind dynamic windows is hitting the market very soon. It starts with a high performance, super-insulated window with a U-factor 0.10 (R-10) and adds dynamic tinting, resulting in up to 30 percent energy savings compared to a similar non-dynamic super-insulated window. Compared to a double-pane, low-e window, a dynamic window could save you up to 28 percent on heating and cooling if you live in a mixed climate, and nearly that much if you live in a heating-dominated or cooling-dominated climate.
With dynamic windows, the advantages of
passive solar heating can be let in to warm your home when needed, as well as providing natural light. Even beyond saving energy, dynamic windows can improve your view of the outside world, reduce your need for shading, and stop your furniture from fading as much.
Is it too bold to call dynamic windows a game-changer? They’ll gradually alter the long-established practices of installing awnings, landscaping, and exterior shutters and shades to adjust how much heat and light enter. Dynamic windows could potentially save you the time and money of installing storm windows and other seasonal additions. While they can be spendy and shouldn’t be your very first step in improving your home’s energy efficiency, they can provide valuable energy savings nonetheless.