Abstract

Electrochromic materials (ECM) and windows (ECW) are able to regulate the solar radiation throughput by application of an external electrical voltage. Thus, ECWs may decrease heating, cooling, lighting and electricity loads in buildings by admitting the optimum level of solar energy and daylight at any given time, e.g. cold winter climate versus warm summer climate demands. It is crucial to be able to compare the dynamic solar radiation control for different ECWs and hence require specific ECW properties. The solar radiation control for ECWs may readily be characterized by several solar radiation glazing factors, where a comparison for various ECW configurations enables one to select the most appropriate ones for specific smart window applications in energy-efficient buildings. As an example a particular ECW based on the ECMs polyaniline, prussian blue and tungsten oxide is presented, being able to regulate as much as 60 % of the visible and
59 % of the total solar radiation.