Electrochromic glazing in buildings: A case study

© 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. A major application area for electrochromic devices is architectural glazing, particularly that for office buildings which are often highly glazed. This chapter begins with an overview of daylighting in non-residential buildings and explains why the traditional control solutions, for example, blinds, often lead to the under-exploitation of the daylighting potential of the building. It reviews the control of daylight in buildings together with reasons why the traditional methods, for example, venetian blinds, are habitually used in a sub-optimal fashion, often negating the daylight potential afforded by the glazing design. Various types of chromogenic and variable transmission glazing (VTG) are outlined, and the potential for practical use in buildings together with operational factors and performance issues is discussed. The chapter concludes with a description of and preliminary findings from a case study evaluation of a pair of offices spaces in the United Kingdom fitted with EC glazing.