Smart glass, which can vary the light transmittance and thermal properties of windows in response to changing conditions, is a premium building product. Prices to the end user are at least double those of static, high-performance window glazing, and have slowed adoption of these energy-saving materials. According to a recent report from Navigant Research, that will change over the next 10 years, as the cost of electrochromic and suspended particle smart glass glazing units falls by more than 50 percent.
"Smart glass can help improve energy performance while adding to occupants' comfort and satisfaction," says Eric Bloom, senior research analyst with Navigant Research. "As industrial-scale production capacity comes online and the cost of the materials themselves falls, smart glass prices should approach those of other types of energy-efficient glass, removing one of the primary barriers to more widespread adoption."
As a result, the volume of installed smart glass will grow from fewer than 250,000 square meters to just over 2.7 million square meters in the next 10 years, according to the report. One factor that could slow this growth is the lingering effects of the global recession of 2008-2010, which hit the buildings industry particularly hard. Many companies in the flat glass sector continue to report operating losses and are actively managing overcapacity. High-value smart glass products could help accelerate the industry's recovery.
The report, "Smart Glass", provides an analysis of various smart glass technologies and their applications in the building and transportation markets. It provides insights on the go-to-market strategies for vendors, and considers how their relationships with glazing sector companies and suppliers are shaping the market. Market forecasts for glazing unit product volume and value, segmented by technology and end-market sector, extend through 2022. The report also includes an examination of the market drivers and barriers, as well as costs and benefits, related to smart glass. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Navigant Research website.
