SageGlass options eliminate trade-offs between energy efficiency and aesthetic design goals
SAGE has expanded architectural design possibilities for dynamic glass by making SageGlass® available in multiple shapes and colors with enhanced glare control.
These options provide architects and building owners with greater design freedom by allowing dynamic glass to be incorporated into more window, skylight and curtain wall designs where non-rectangular shapes are desired. Having broader shape and color options with dynamic glass mitigates the trade-offs that architects may have to make when choosing energy-efficient glazing over aesthetic design.
SageGlass is electronically tintable dynamic glass that maximizes daylight and outdoor views in buildings while controlling glare and heat gain. The glass can tint or clear with the touch of a button, or in concert with an automated building management system to save energy and help keep building occupants continuously comfortable throughout the day.
SageGlass provides design flexibility by offering dynamic glass in trapezoid, parallelogram and triangular forms, in addition to standard rectangular glass in sizes up to 5’ by 10’. Achieving accurate and uniform tint levels across non-standard shapes can be a significant engineering challenge for traditional solar control mechanisms (such as shades) or other forms of dynamic glass. However, SageGlass shape options are widely available and have been field-proven in several innovative projects including the National Research Energy Laboratory in Boulder, CO, Cottage Grove City Hall in Cottage Grove, MN, Utrecht Government Building in the Netherlands, and Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, VA.
For example, St. Johnsbury Athenaeum in Vermont needed to replicate a number of trapezoidal glass shapes for the museum’s skylight renovation project to preserve the architectural integrity of this National Historic Landmark, according to John Mesick of Mesick Cohen Wilson Baker Architects, LLC. “As one of the country’s oldest art galleries, it was critical that the skylight preserve the unique and authentic atmosphere that people experience when they visit,” Mesick said. “SageGlass allowed us to block the UV rays without blocking the natural light, while also preserving the unique glass shape pattern of the original Victorian-era skylight.”
New colors and tint levels
SageGlass is also available in a variety of colors to enable architects and building owners to maintain design integrity while improving energy efficiency with dynamic glazing. SageGlass is fabricated in a laminated multi-pane process, allowing different color options to be combined creating an even larger spectrum of choices. Having a larger palette of available colors enables architects and building designers to more seamlessly integrate SageGlass with other glass in their projects. New color options include:
SageGlass® Blue
SageGlass® Green
SageGlass® Gray
Enhanced Glare Control
SageGlass has also further enhanced its glare control capabilities. In its fully tinted state, the glazing is now able to achieve 1% visible light transmission (versus 2% previously). Each incremental percentage point has a significant impact on glare control. A study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) that was commissioned by the California Energy Commission regarding human visual comfort has shown that dynamic glazing with 3% transmission is not sufficient to control window glare. In their study, with electrochromic glazing tinted to 3%, almost one-quarter of occupants still had to lower interior blinds to achieve sufficient glare control. Further, the majority of participants reported that they would have been more satisfied if the windows tinted more. The report states that a low transmittance level of 1% or less “would reduce or eliminate the dependence on interior sun-blocking shades.” Importantly, even when fully tinted, SageGlass always remains transparent so building occupants never lose their view and connection to the outdoors.
“All of these initiatives – shapes, colors, and improved glare control – reflect our mission to reduce trade-offs between design and functionality,” said Derek Malmquist, Vice President of Marketing at SAGE. “Our goal is to provide our customers with superior energy efficiency and occupant comfort in a solution that will fit into virtually any architectural design.”
Please visit SAGE at Booth #1511 at the upcoming Greenbuild show in Philadelphia Nov. 20-21. SageGlass will also be highlighted in the annual Greenbuild architectural tour, featuring its installation at the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts in downtown Philadelphia at 300 South Broad Street.
The Saint-Gobain North America family of brands at Greenbuild 2013 includes CertainTeed, SageGlass, ADFORS, and two products from Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics – Green Glue and Thermalbond®. In a wide variety of verticals – from education to healthcare and beyond – Saint-Gobain North America offers a number of products and solutions that do everything from improve indoor air quality to reduce noise pollution – ultimately making “Life’s Material Difference.”
About SAGE Electrochromics, Inc.
SAGE Electrochromics is the world’s leading manufacturer of advanced dynamic glass that can be tinted or cleared to optimize daylight and improve the human experience in buildings. SageGlass controls the sunlight and heat that enter a building, significantly reducing energy consumption while improving people’s comfort and well-being. SageGlass can reduce a building’s cooling load by 20% and HVAC requirements up to 30%. It is a smarter, more elegant solution than conventional sun controls such as mechanical window shades, blinds and louvers. Now celebrating its 10th year anniversary shipping commercial SageGlass, the company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered near Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., in the heart of “the Silicon Valley of the window industry.” SAGE is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saint-Gobain of Paris, the world’s largest building materials company.
