SAGE Electrochromics, Inc.
SAGE Electrochromics, Inc. is a pioneering technology company specializing in the development, manufacture, and commercialization of advanced dynamic glass for the building industry. Founded in 1989 as Sun Active Glass Electrochromics, Inc., the company's ambitious mission was to completely reinvent the role of glass in modern construction. Headquartered and manufactured in Faribault, Minnesota, SAGE Electrochromics operates today as a wholly owned subsidiary of the global materials giant, Saint-Gobain.
Continue…Core Business and Technology
The company???s core business revolves around its proprietary electrochromic glass, often referred to as EC glass or smart glass. This technology is classified under the GreenTech sector due to its profound impact on building energy efficiency and occupant comfort. SAGE's electrochromic glass is an electronically tintable glazing for use in building envelopes, including windows, skylights, and curtainwalls.
How the Technology Works:
The electrochromic process is a solid-state reaction controlled by a low-voltage direct current (less than 5V DC). The smart glass is constructed using nanotechnology, where five ultra-thin layers of ceramic materials???with a total thickness less than one-fiftieth that of a human hair???are coated onto float glass.
1. Tinting: When a voltage is applied, lithium ions and associated electrons transfer from a counter electrode layer into an electrochromic layer. This movement causes the coating to darken.
2. Clearing: Reversing the voltage polarity causes the ions and electrons to return to the counter electrode, making the glass clear.
When the glass is darkened, it absorbs and reradiates the sun's light and heat to the exterior, actively managing the solar energy entering the building.
Products and Services
The company's primary product is SageGlass, an advanced dynamic glass system. SageGlass offers a smarter, more elegant solution to solar control compared to conventional methods such as mechanical window shades, blinds, and louvers. The dynamic nature of the product allows it to transition electronically from a clear state to a deeply tinted state, and all points in between, at the touch of a button or automatically through an integrated building management system.
Key Product Benefits and Services:
* Energy Efficiency: By managing the sun's heat and light, SageGlass significantly mitigates solar heat gain, which can dramatically reduce a building's cooling load by up to 20% and lower the overall size and requirement for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment by up to 30%. This translates directly into substantial energy cost savings for the building owner.
* Glare and Light Control: The ability to instantly tint the glass allows building occupants to maintain control over sunlight and glare while preserving their view and connection to the outdoors, eliminating the need for blinds or shades.
* Enhanced Occupant Comfort: By optimizing daylight and preventing uncomfortable heat buildup or excessive glare, the glass contributes to improved occupant comfort and well-being in commercial, institutional, and high-end residential buildings.
* Integration: SageGlass is designed to be easily integrated into a building's broader automation and energy management systems, allowing for automated, proactive control over the building envelope???s energy performance.
* Material Protection: The control over solar radiation also helps to reduce the fading of interior materials, such as furniture and artwork, caused by ultraviolet (UV) light exposure.
The company's commercial focus is on providing insulating glass units (IGUs) for new construction and renovation projects, where its technology serves as an architectural and high-efficiency alternative to traditional glazing products. In the past, the core SageGlass product was also marketed in Europe under the QUANTUM GLASS??? brand by its parent company, Saint-Gobain.
