DOE eyeing emerging technologies, including dynamic glass

The U.S. Department of Energy hosted a Window Technology Roadmap session during the Window and Door Manufacturers Association Technical Conference, June 28, in Bloomington, Minn. "It is crucial for the DOE to have stakeholder involvement," said Alexis Abramson, acting supervisor, emerging technologies, for the DOE.

During the packed session, attendees heard updates on DOE Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy activities in the window and door, and glass industries. Representatives from laboratories presented updates on DOE-related projects, and industry companies provided updates on several product categories, including highly insulating windows, dynamic windows and window films. Industry-related ratings agencies also provided updates. Click to view all presentations from the session.

Marc LaFrance, DOE Technology Development Manager, provided an overview of the DOE's Windows R&D Program, and warned that the industry programs are facing a decrease in funding in the coming year. "We're expecting a 50 percent to 80 percent reduction in funding for fiscal year 2013," LaFrance said. "There is less interest in the envelope and windows these days. ... We will do the best we can and manage through."

Looking forward, the DOE will be focusing on retrofit and replacement of the current window stock. "How do we replace those windows? How do we make it more cost effective?" LaFrance said. The agency is also eyeing emerging technologies like dynamic windows—"we think the future is dynamic windows," he said.

Regarding the DOE's R-5 Windows Volume Purchase Program, LaFrance said "we see it transitioning, possibly starting a most-efficient program with the [Environmental Protection Agency], or potentially developing an R-7 to R-10 program," he said.

Additional presentations included: a DOE Building Technologies Program strategic presentation; overview of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory activities; overview of National Renewable Energy Laboratory activities; overview of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory activities; International Energy Agency envelope roadmap; five presentations on high insulating windows, including vacuum and multi-cavity IG technologies; four presentations on dynamic windows, including electrochromic and thermochromic windows; two window film presentations; and two ratings and knowledge base presentations, including an update on the National Fenestration Rating Council activities.

All presentations are available here. For recaps from the meeting, view tweets from Glass Magazine Senior Editor Katy Devlin, @KDevlinGlass.