Dynamic Façades: Solving the High Performance Building Challenge without Design Compromise

High performance sustainable building standards such as ASHRAE 189.1, IgCC and LEED recognize the need for windows to provide natural daylight and views, yet this requirement is often at odds with the need to reduce building energy and can impact occupant comfort creating a significant design challenge. Indeed there is significant controversy currently over data that suggests that buildings meeting these sustainable building standards do not actually have lower energy usage than conventionally designed buildings. This is adding additional fuel to arguments for the reduction of allowable window area in both baseline and green building codes. Electronically tintable glass can offer a solution which avoids having to trade off daylight and views with energy performance and occupant comfort, allowing more glass to be used without energy penalty and without causing thermal or visual discomfort for occupants. This paper reviews a range of new case studies where dynamic glazing has been used to solve acute solar control problems through retrofits and used in new high performance designs where the architect has been able to execute on their design vision of a highly glazed building without having to compromise either energy performance or occupant comfort. In addition it reviews some key advancements in EC glass design and performance which is providing enhanced architectural design freedom.

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