SageGlass Brings Breakthrough Glazing Technology to National Building Energy Efficiency Research Hub

GPIC is one of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Innovation Hubs established to accelerate national energy independence and green job creation. SAGE's SageGlass will be part of a research and demonstration project at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, intended to showcase and test the most advanced energy-efficient technologies, methods and policies.



The SageGlass project is one of seven initial Opportunity Research Fund grants totaling $1.3 million awarded by GPIC to explore new integrated window and lighting systems, among other building design objectives. SAGE competed for the grant in conjunction with its strategic partner, Saint-Gobain, and Penn State. The partners were awarded $200,000 for the winning proposal.



GPIC selected SageGlass technology to explore the energy savings and occupant comfort that can be achieved through the use of electrochromic glazing in buildings exposed to significant direct sunlight. SageGlass tints or untints at the push of a button to modulate visible light, heat gain and glare, while letting building occupants enjoy natural light and outdoor views. By regulating solar heat gain, it reduces energy consumption in buildings by up to 20 percent, HVAC requirements as much as 30 percent and lighting energy costs by up to 60 percent.



"We are pleased to provide these awards to outstanding organizations," said Henry Foley, Ph.D., GPIC executive director. "The selected projects reflect the priorities and areas of need for GPIC where additional research will continue toward meeting GPIC goals and spurring innovation."



GPIC is a consortium of academic institutions, federal laboratories, businesses and other organizations, led by Penn State, that joined forces to secure nearly $130 million from the DOE to form one of three national Innovation Hubs. GPIC has established The Navy Yard in Philadelphia as the national center for building energy-efficient research, education, policy and commercialization.



Its goal is to "transform the building retrofit industry from serial fragmentation to integrated systems methods, to improve design tools, building systems, public policies, market incentives and workforce skills needed to achieve a 50 percent reduction in building energy use and to stimulate private investment and quality job creation in Greater Philadelphia and beyond," according to its charter.



GPIC's SageGlass research and demonstration project will study an integrated building retrofit solution to facilitate these goals. "The fastest, most cost-effective path to national greenhouse gas reduction and energy independence is to make our buildings as energy efficient as possible," said Derek Malmquist, SAGE's vice president of marketing. "SageGlass improves the energy performance of buildings, while allowing occupants to experience the benefits of natural daylighting and a connection to the outdoors. We're excited to play a key role with our partners Saint-Gobain and Penn State to demonstrate and quantify the solar control properties of SAGE's dynamic glass."



About SAGE



SAGE Electrochromics is the world's leading manufacturer of electronically tintable glass that can be tinted or untinted to optimize daylight and improve the human experience in buildings. SageGlass controls the sunlight and heat that enter a building, significantly reducing energy consumption while improving people's comfort and well-being. SageGlass can reduce a building's cooling load by 20% and HVAC requirements up to 30%. It is also a smarter, more elegant solution than conventional sun controls such as mechanical window shades, blinds and louvers. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered near Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., in the heart of "the Silicon Valley of the window industry." SAGE is strategically partnered with the Saint-Gobain company of Paris, France, the global leader in glass and building products.



For more information visit:



Website: www.sageglass.com



Twitter: twitter.com/Sage_Glass



Facebook: Facebook.com/SageGlass



LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/sage-electrochromics-inc.



YouTube: Youtube.com/SAGEElectrochromics



GPIC: www.gpichub.org



SOURCE: SAGE