Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) announced on June 25, 2007 that it had developed solar heat-reflective glass for windowpanes. The glass can reflect more than 50 percent of solar heat rays (infrared rays) while transmitting more than 80 percent of visible light rays, thereby minimizing disruptions to natural lighting and viewing.

It is thought that 71 percent of heat intake into buildings comes through windows. The use of the newly developed glass in building windows is expected to reduce building cooling loads, saving large amounts of energy.

While double glass has been attracting attention recently because of its energy-saving effects, AIST is developing glass that has a higher transmission rate for visible light and a higher reflection rate for solar heat rays, despite its simpler structure. The new glass is designed to block ultraviolet rays by reflecting or absorbing them, and to control transmission of infrared rays by reflecting them. Its heat insulation effects have also been verified.

The institute aims to establish basic technology applicable to windowpanes in order to meet demands for wider transmission of visible light and higher reflection rates for infrared light.

http://www.aist.go.jp/index_en.html
- AIST Develops Next-generation Multifunctional Window Glass (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/950-e
- 'Smart Glass' Technology Moving toward Commercialization (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1473-e

Posted: 2007/10/28 12:01:46 PM
Japanese version

TAG Eco-product/Business , Energy , University/Research institute