by Shane Henson — November 7, 2012—The U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Green Proving Ground program will soon test the ability of SAGE Electrochromics’ SageGlass dynamic glass to control sunlight and heat in federal buildings while also reducing energy consumption.
The Green Proving Ground uses GSA-managed properties to evaluate technologies that reduce energy in federal buildings and have significant savings potential if widely implemented. SageGlass is electronically tintable dynamic glass that maximizes daylight and outdoor views in buildings while controlling solar glare and heat gain.
According to SAGE, the product can reduce a building’s cooling load by 20 percent and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) requirements up to 30 percent. The company also says it is a smarter, more elegant solution than conventional sun controls such as mechanical window shades, blinds and louvers.
SageGlass will be evaluated at the Donna-Rio Bravo U.S. Land Port of Entry, a Green Proving Ground project and the first LEED Gold-accredited port of entry in Texas. The building serves as the checkpoint and inspection facility for civilian traffic crossing the Rio Grande into and from Mexico via the Alliance International Bridge.
Since the federal agents need maximum visibility and unobstructed views at all angles throughout the day and in any weather condition, GSA hopes that SageGlass will enable the port of entry to control the intense Texas sunlight throughout the day and seasons without having to install sunshades or blinds, or for personnel to resort to sunglasses, visors or other sun-blocking methods that would otherwise compromise the outdoor view.
By regulating solar heat gain and optimizing daylight, SageGlass may also improve the energy efficiency of the port of entry by reducing lighting and HVAC system loads.
SageGlass was one of 12 technologies selected by the GSA for this year’s Green Proving Ground program. But this is not the first government installation for the dynamic glazing, the company says. SageGlass has already delivered benefits to state and federal facilities, including the Torrington Port of Entry in Wyoming and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Research Support Facility and Energy Systems Integration Facility.
