Report Suggests Knowledge of Smart Windows Amongst FMs is Lacking

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• Report Suggests Knowledge of Smart Windows Amongst FMs is Lacking

28 July 2021

One of the biggest growth barriers for the smart windows and glass market is a lack of end-user experience and education, according to trend analysis from Guidehouse Insights.

The report expects the global revenue for the smart window and glass market to reach nearly $2 billion by 2030. However, the global market for architectural applications has had slower than expected growth since 2016.

This is mainly due to the expensive price of the products compared with the price of regular flat glass windows, lack of widespread education on smart windows among building owners, facilities managers, contractors, and other market stakeholders, and the lack of market competition needed for product prices to decrease.

However, heavy investment in the industry in recent years could lead to higher growth rates in the coming years, according to the report.

What are Smart Windows and Why are They Used?

Smart window and glass technologies are defined as glass solutions that can automatically alter their light and heat transmission properties to reduce heat and glare penetration in a building and provide occupant privacy at the same time.

Some of the benefits derived from having smart windows include HVAC and lighting systems energy savings, increased occupant comfort and wellness, clear outside views, and improved building aesthetics.

Active smart glass technologies respond to an electrical stimulus and are controllable by the user, whereas passive smart glass technologies respond to non-electrical stimuli and cannot be controlled manually. 

The opportunity to generate energy savings remains the foundation of smart window demand, but the true barrier is the higher upfront cost compared with traditional windows. Educating developers and building owners about the advantages of smart windows is a huge stepping-stone needed for this market to reach its potential.

The demand for smart windows globally has been increasing year over year because of the popularity of smart buildings. Smart buildings have become an important trend globally due to their ability to reduce costs, improve the occupant experience, increase sustainability, and facilitate real-time decision-making.

“As buildings become more digitalized and interconnected, different building technologies are becoming smarter as well,” says David Gonzalez, senior research analyst with Guidehouse Insights. “Integrating smart windows into building automation systems (BASs) can translate into lower energy usage, higher comfort levels for building occupants, and facilitate preventive maintenance rather than reactive maintenance.

The full report can be downloaded here.

Wellbeing Attributes

In a recent study, employees working next to smart windows improved their sleep by 37 minutes per night and cognitive function by 42 per cent. It can also reduce the incidence of eyestrain and headaches by over 50 per cent.

Two large-scale surveys of employees across North America also revealed that: employees rank natural light and views as the top two amenities they desire in a workplace. They also consider these basic environmental factors, among others that characterize their physical environment, to be crucial to their workplace wellbeing.

View Dynamic Glass and View Smart Windows

Office Space in Town, a UK-based office provider, features smart windows at its London Blackfriars office. The building has the first UK installation of View Dynamic Glass, windows that automatically tint to maximise natural light.

In Lower Manhattan, New York, smart windows will be installed at the new overbuild at 100 Pearl Street, a Class-A office tower currently undergoing a top-to-bottom transformation by GFP Real Estate and Northwind Group.

The design of the double-height, 24-foot all-glass penthouses are made possible by View Smart Windows, which use artificial intelligence to tint automatically, optimizing natural light and views of the outdoors while minimizing heat and glare. ts.

“Companies around the world are reinventing buildings to be experiential, sustainable, healthy, and smart,” said Dr. Rao Mulpuri, Chairman and CEO of View. “Renovations like those taking place at 100 Pearl represent a tremendous opportunity to transform the built environment to optimize the health and well-being of occupants. We’re thrilled to once again partner with a developer as forward-thinking as GFP Real Estate.”

Picture: a photograph of the proposed renovation at 100 Pearl Street

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 28 July 2021

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