A team of scientists based in Singapore have developed a ‘smart window’ technology that could potentially reduce energy usage, bills and consumption by simply adding a coating onto structural glass panels.

The team at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore developed a thermochromic window material that automatically responds to changes in temperature and either heat or cool rooms appropriately without the use of electronic sensors.

The adaptive glass technology uses a system that used tungsten-doped vanadium dioxide to create a coating for window glass and rooftops that exploits the electromagnetic light spectrums that cause heating and cooling.

This means that the glass reacts during the summer months to suppress and reflect heat from the sun whilst boosting radiative cooling, whilst doing the opposite in winter, becoming the first glass coating of its kind to be able to do both.

Previously, only the former was possible, using low emissivity coatings similar to those used in sunglasses to effectively tint the room and reduce solar heat, but this led to increased heating bills in winter or an expensive removal process.

This alternative coating allows for an efficient way to conserve energy in buildings without relying on moving parts, electrical sensors or using curtains and blinds to block out the sun’s rays.

After testing it in seven climate zones representing every populated part of the planet, they found an overall saving of roughly 330,000 kWh per year, which could power 60 homes for a year, compared to low emissivity glass.

As well as this, it can be adjusted for different markets and regions, where the temperature needs can vary considerably,