First it was smart TVs, then it was smart lights and home systems. Now, we have smart glass – and it could change homes as we know them.
In the not-so-distant future, we may soon have homes with windows that can be controlled via a smartphone. Heat-sensing window treatments will open or close, depending on your temperature preference.
It may sound like the work of science fiction, but smart glass will soon be in homes everywhere.
The Rise of “Super Windows”
Smart glass is already being implemented in vehicles.
“It’s the catch-all name for car glass that’s had “smart” coating or laminating materials added to it, or that’s been embedded with electronics or sensors to perform navigational tasks,” says Diamond Auto Glass & Tint. “Making the windshield smart gives it such capabilities as becoming self-tinting, self-cleaning, and self-repairing. Smart glass can even become an entertainment center.”
Now, this same idea is being put into home windows through what they call “super windows.” The technology is still advancing, but right now, we have four different types of smart windows.
- Liquid crystal windows, which uses the same technology as LCD devices. These use electric currents to switch between translucent and clear.
- Electrochromic windows, which change tint on command.
- Thermochromic windows, which adjust for opacity or tint. Changes are driven by temperature and not electrical current.
- Photochromic windows, which adjust to light using the same technology used in eyeglasses that darken when you walk into the sunlight.
We also have smart tint solutions that can be applied directly to your regular windows. There are quite a few of these on the market already, but essentially, they allow you to control the level of opaqueness with the touch of a button or through a smartphone app.
The Future of Smart Windows
All of these windows are impressive, but the super windows of the future will be able to do so much more. Researchers at Michigan State University have developed a solar concentrator that creates solar energy while still allowing you to see through the window.
Similar technology can convert more than 22% of sunlight energy into electricity.
The technology is still in its infancy, but it has a promising future. Between solar panels and solar windows, we may be able to generate far more electricity than we’ll ever need using the sun’s energy.
In the future, the windows in our homes may be just like our smartphones, acting as touchscreens and our own personal entertainment systems.
Smart Windows and the Real Estate Market
Smart windows will likely be a major selling point for home buyers in the near future, particularly for millennial buyers.
Millennials are already willing to pay 20% more per month for homes that have smart home technology. Research from Wakefield Research found that 86% of millennials will pay more for homes or rental properties that have smart home technology.
Smart windows, which is certainly a smart home technology, would entice buyers in this demographic and certainly help homes sell faster than those with conventional windows.
