SAGE unveils world’s first dynamic glass control system with in-pane zoning

 The new SageGlass Control System allows building occupants to change the tint in three different sections in a single pane of SageGlass, and each section can be set to any available tint level. This variability provides much greater flexibility for managing solar heat gain and glare. With multiple zones in a single window, factors such as the changing angles of the sun throughout the day and seasons can be better managed to optimize daylight and preserve the outdoor view.

“The variable zoned glass will give buildings a simpler way to create a more flexible ‘skin’ and adapt better to their surroundings,” said Derek Malmquist, vice president of marketing at SAGE. “Architects will be able to more easily create designs that precisely adjust to constantly changing environmental conditions and building owners will experience windows with the highest level of energy efficiency and solar control possible.”

The new SageGlass Control System supports a variety of popular building automation network standards and protocols, such as BACnet and LonTalk, enabling it to be integrated easily into most commercial building control systems. The SageGlass Control System can also be programmed to work automatically with external light sensors, or manually using push-button controls. And the new variable zone capability doesn’t add installation complexity – a multi-zone SageGlass unit has just four wires for simple and low-cost installation.

The multi-zone tinting will be made possible by the next-generation of SageGlass, commercially available in early 2013, when SAGE’s new high volume manufacturing plant starts full production. The state-of-the-art facility features advanced manufacturing technologies that will enable SageGlass to be manufactured in much larger architectural-grade sizes, up to 5 X 10 feet, with more colors and other aesthetic options for architects and building owners.

About SAGE Electrochromics, Inc.

SAGE Electrochromics is the world’s leading manufacturer of advanced dynamic glass that can be tinted or cleared 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 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 a wholly owned subsidiary of Saint-Gobain of Paris, France, the world’s largest building materials company.