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Tag Archive for: self-tinting glass

Self tinting glass helps buildings keep their cool

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Self tinting glass helps buildings keep their cool

Self tinting glass helps buildings keep their cool

Energy consumption is one of the hottest topics in new building construction – no pun intended. The drive to reduce energy grows more urgent as developing nations increase construction projects designed to support their economic activities. Nations closest to the Equator are those most in need of simple, reliable solutions that reduce the need for electricity. That’s where self-tinting glass comes in.

Self tinting glass is glass that tints based on the movement of the Sun. The glass remains tinted as long as it is exposed to sunlight. As the Sun moves off the glass, the glass returns to its clear, untinted condition. The glass also remains clear on cloudy days to maximize the transmission of visible light. Read more

Smart glass can tint automatically or manually

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Smart glass can tint automatically or manually

Smart glass can tint automatically or manually

Scientists and materials engineers have been working with “smart” glass for awhile. Smart glass can change its opacity, usually when an electric current is applied to particles embedded in the glass. Photochromic glasses can tint when they detect UV light. Kinestral, a startup based in Hayward, CA, has developed a new type of electrochromic glass that can change opacity either on demand or automatically, based on conditions or programming.

According to the company, the new glass is virtually indistinguishable from regular glass when it is in its untinted state. Halio glass can be tinted manually, using a wall-mounted control panel. It also responds to voice commands and requests from a smartphone app. In addition, the glass is “programmable.” It can respond to a preset program from the control pad, or it can be programmed to respond to conditions including weather changes, the time of day, or the presence of sunlight.

That’s not Halio’s only set of tricks. Individual panes of glass can be controlled separately, meaning that one panel, or a group of panels can be tinted, while others appear perfectly clear. In addition, users can select the depth of shading that each window achieves. The glass can also be used for entirely interior applications to provide privacy or shading for offices, meeting rooms and conference rooms.

The shading effect isn’t instantaneous. It takes about five minutes for the glass to change from its lightest to darkest shading. Kinestral hasn’t yet put Halio on the market; the glass will be available for purchase in certain regions starting in 2017. The company has not yet said where the product roll-out will start, but it intends to make the glass available globally in 2018.

One inexpensive way to control the transmission of heat and light is through the use of Glassprimer™ glass paint. Glassprimer™ glass paint is specially formulated to adhere to glass surfaces permanently. Once cured, Glassprimer™ glass paint will not chip, fade or peel, even in direct sunlight. The paint can be tinted to match the paint palette of any major paint manufacturer, and comes in low-VOC oil- and water-based formulations.

If you’d like more information about Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: seier + seier, via Flickr.com