Smart-Tinting Glass for Greener Cities

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Smart-tinting glasses are elements designed to respond to the dynamically changing light conditions. They are one of the most advanced façade components, which can provide a  more sustainable and energy-efficient future. Smart-tinting glasses are a vital element in the construction of smart buildings.

This article explains the essential features and benefits of smart-tinting glasses in construction.

Smart-Tinting Glass Technology

Most smart-tinting glazed glasses are assembled with two thin layers of glass with a microscopically thin conductive coating. This coating is a layer of chemical compound that creates an anode, cathode, and an insulating conductor between the two glass panes. The ions move between the material to darken the glass or lighten it when a low-voltage electrical charge is applied to the glass.

Now, there are software-controlled glazing products with inbuilt IoT, which directly facilitates online connectivity with computers and smartphones. Advanced electrochromic technologies (EC) coming up for tinting glass can respond directly to building management software.

Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is one of the essential smart-tinting glass technologies used worldwide for identifying and locating devices. All the communicating devices must have an IPv6 interface—for example, smartphones, cameras, drones, lighting, elevators, and security systems.

The integration of smart-tinting glass with the building’s mechanical and electrical systems improves the level of control. The smart glassworks with HVAC balance the temperature and the lights within the building throughout the day.

Each glass component has its own IPv6 interface. For example, a smart-tinting glass facing north can modify light to compensate for dimmer ambient light, while the one facing south compensates for the light coming directly from the sun.

Features of Smart-Tinting Glasses

Due to the rising environmental concerns, most buildings, especially commercial properties used by organizations, are trying to adopt innovative technologies to reduce energy consumption for the comfort of the occupants.

Smart glass windows change from bright to dark in response to external temperature and lighting. This hence controls the room’s ambience and temperature without reducing the building energy needs.

An IPv6-incorporated smart-tinting glass can enhance occupants’ productivity, through voice assistance taking advantage of cloud-based technology. For instance, if someone needs to use a projector in the presentation room, they can dim the lights in the room by merely using voice commands.

Along with this, the lights turn off and adjust the temperature for darkened conditions as necessary. Hence, the level of integration smart-tinting glass offers meets the needs of the individual users and achieves complete smart building management. It enables:

1. Dynamic control of façade to reduce heat and glare
2. Identification of areas where potential improvement is required for efficiency
3. Reduced energy costs
4. Increased level of comfort

Advantages of Smart-Tinting Glass

The various advantages smart-tinting glass offers for building management are:

1. Perform solar shading and daylighting control
2. Require less maintenance
3. Smart glass can be remotely controlled in real-time
4. It can tint quickly and uniformly
5. Various tinting levels can be achieved depending on aesthetic or privacy reasons
6. It can block 99.9% of visible light, making it suitable for office and interior partition walls
7. It can be incorporated with central management of the lighting system, thus helping to reduce overall lighting costs

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