Self-Tinting SolarSmart is the Simple Solution for Managing Sunlight

By Mike Ratliff, Senior Associate Editor

SolarSmart

Large floor-to-ceiling windows are a big plus for urban-core renters who view sunlight as a luxury amenity. As someone who has past experience with brick-wall views, I am not one to disagree. But excessive amounts of sunlight brings its own set of problems. Glare is a pain when watching TV—it can feel like living in a greenhouse in the summer, and no renter wants to shell out for their own blind/drape solution immediately after forking over first, last and security.

The solution, however, lies in the glass itself. Dynamic glass technology has been around for some time. It is essentially glass with varying opacity. There are controllable and non-controllable versions, each with their own advantages. Non-controllable responds to external environmental input (i.e. temperature), while controllable glass can tint and clear on demand, either manually or in-line with your building’s automation system.

SolarSmart

If a simple glass solution is what you are after, then your answer lies with non-controllable glass. Innovative Glass Corp. has a new product in their lineup called SolarSmart. It is a self-tinting, high-performance glass that automatically darkens in the presence of direct sunlight to block heat, glare and ultraviolet light. The glass is 100 percent solar activated, powered and controlled—meaning there is no need for wires, electronics, external power or user involvement as is needed with controllable glass. While the glass does darken in the presence of sunlight, the view is always preserved thanks to a proprietary inter layer called Suntuitive™.

SolarSmart has passed NREL’s stringent durability & exposure tests and meets ASTM E2141-06 standards for long-term, maintenance-free performance. The product also contributes to LEED points in more than six categories. SolarSmart is available in the form of insulated glass units for curtainwalls, atriums and OEM applications, as well as complete windows, doors and skylights for contractor installation.

For more information, be sure to check out Innovative Glass Corp.’s website.