Smart electrochromic windows (SECWs) for energy management

Smart Electrochromic Windows (SECWs) — the windows for future, are the windows, which by dynamically controlling solar and visual properties in response to exterior environmental conditions and interior needs, can offer visual and thermal comfort along with significant amount of energy saving. They play an increasingly important role in high standards of efficient energy usage and management in new building regulations. Their greatest value is generated if they can respond appropriately in terms of dynamic switching speed, color, lifetime and optical properties and if they can be fabricated cost effectively. This paper presents some of the results of our preliminary attempts made in this direction, in terms of the preparation and salient features of the components of the SECWs developed and the performance characteristics of different prototype SECWs fabricated and their comparison. Paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on Ionic Devices, Anna University, Chennai, India, Nov. 28–30, 2003.