Dynamic glass, which tints to allow sunlight and heat to be controlled, will soon become an integral part of creating ideal living and working environments.
This is the view of Guillaume Le Gavrian, CEO of Vetrotech Saint-Gobain International AG and Director of Sales at SageGlass® in Flamatt, Switzerland, and Andreas Engelhardt, CEO and Managing Partner of Schüco International KG in Bielefeld, Germany. They signed a partnership contract in Bielefeld with the intention of establishing this innovative technology in Germany.
With the partnership between Saint-Gobain and Schüco, more reference projects in Germany will be supplied with SageGlass® installed in Schüco windows and façades. SageGlass® is an electronically tintable and therefore dynamic glass for windows, doors, toplight systems and façades, which allows sunlight to be controlled without Venetian blinds or roller shutters. Currently, this special glass can be combined with selected window constructions from the Schüco AWS series with 75, 90 and 120 mm basic depths and Schüco door constructions with 75 and 90 mm basic depths. The FW 60+ façade system is also a perfect partner for this glass. The first joint project has already been confirmed – as part of the building work to extend the Schüco Technology Center in Bielefeld, the façade will be fitted with this innovative technology.
SageGlass® is available as double or triple glazing. The heart of the glass – its electrochromic coating – is protected by the glass composition on the inside of the pane and consists of five ceramic layers. The ceramic material is particularly robust and absorbs heat and light for many years with ease. A low voltage of just 5 volts is required to alter the position of the lithium ions and electrons in the layer so that the glass changes colour from light to dark. When it is tinted, you can still see through to the outside. Raising the voltage polarity causes the ions and electrons to return to their original position, making the glass clear again. On average, the amount of energy required per square metre per day is less than 3 watts.
SageGlass® allows glare and solar heat radiation to the inside of the building to be controlled – irrespective of the height of the building. Visibility to the outside and the connection with the outside world are retained at all times. The glass also performs well in terms of sustainability – up to 8 points for the LEED certification can be achieved. Furthermore, this sustainable glazing solution also lowers the energy and overall operating costs of a building, as the costs for climate control and lighting are reduced. Another advantage of investing in SageGlass® is that it has a light transmission spectrum from 60 to less than 1%. This allows fading of furniture, carpets or works of art to be prevented.
For developers and architects, SageGlass® opens up new possibilities for façade and interior design. Metal fabricators can offer modern window and façade technology with innovative glazing and simultaneously solve complex solar shading problems for many buildings. The glass offers glare-free daylight whilst providing a pleasant inside temperature.