After many years of being no more than a niche, the smart windows market is starting to reflect growth says a report from NanoMarkets in its latest report on “Smart Windows Markets 2012. NanoMarkets is a leading provider of market research and industry analysis of opportunities within advanced materials and emerging energy and electronics markets. The firm believes that several factors are combining to make this happen. The most obvious perhaps is that there is a growing awareness of energy conservation, green building and fuel efficient transportation by building owners and governments. Smart windows will further provide a growth platform for architectural glass manufacturers and window manufacturers. Already “pricey” architectural glass and window products can be sold at incremental price increase, while providing valuable additional features such as energy savings with smart coatings on the windows and glass facades.
For the construction and architectural side of things, NanoMarkets believes that firms who focus on LEED design and construction, and who adopt smart windows technologies, will benefit the most. As smart windows technology grows and pervades the marketplace, it will eventually become a “required technology” for LEED design and construction. Therefore, architectural and construction firms that are early adopters of smart windows technology in their building designs will gain a sustainable competitive advantage for growing their businesses.With all these developments in mind, NanoMarkets is publishing this new report to pinpoint and quantify where the money will be made – and lost – in the worldwide smart windows business. The report covers both traditional passive smart windows, as well as the new breed of active electrochromic and thermochromic smart window technologies. It also discusses the numerous challenges that will have to be overcome in this market to make new products a success.
This report analyzes the markets for self-dimming windows, self-cleaning windows and the smart windows of the future that will combine window functionality with the ability to serve as either lighting or solar panels; or both.