These days, glass is more than just melted sand. Not only have manufacturers figured out how to make it beautiful with patterns and textures, they’ve also managed to make it filter out UV rays while letting light in.

They’ve even produced glass that can darken and brighten at the touch of a button, or in response to light and heat levels.

There are undoubtedly more innovative surprises in store going forward, but here are some of the newest from members of NAHB’s Leading Suppliers Council.

Daylight to Shade at the Flip of a Switch

Electrochromic glass can transition from a clear state to a tinted state. This feature lets daylight pour into a space — minimizing the need for interior light — or keeps the hot sun out and the A/C from cycling on.

SageGlass — now produced in cooperation with its former competitor, Saint-Gobain — can be controlled by someone’s finger on a button, or can be programmed to respond automatically to changing sunlight and heat conditions.

According to the manufacturer, the product provides dramatic energy savings and enhances the comfort of those using the space.

SageGlass cites the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s estimate that the product’s technology could “reduce building heating and air conditioning equipment size by up to 25%,” and “reduce overall cooling loads for commercial buildings up to 20% and lighting costs by up to 60%.”

Avonlea glass

The company also supplies electrochromic glass to residential window manufacturers Marvin and Weather-Tek.

For more information, click here.

Leafy and Green

The new Avonlea glass design from ThermaTru Doors presents a flowing vine theme in both bronze water glass and clear glass, with black nickel caming.

It was designed to complement many popular home styles, and to occupy an affordable price point.

The new glass is Energy Star-qualified and comes in full-lite, 3/4-lite, 1/2-lite, oval and center-arch lite, with optional side lites and transoms.

It is available in the company’s Fiber-Classic, Smooth-Star, Profiles and Traditions lines.

For more information, click here.

SmartSun glass

Made With Less Shade

Celebrities love tinted windows. But if your customers don’t — but still want lower levels of heat and UV rays in their homes — they may want to look at Andersen Windows’ new Low-E4 SmartSun window glass.

According to the manufacturer, the SmartSun glass blocks 95% of UV radiation — so furnishings won’t fade.

Its solar heat gain is only .28, a level comparable to the company’s tinted Low-E4 glass, but it allows 65% of the daylight in, compared to 40% for the tinted version.

The new glass balances comfort with higher visibility, and is available in all of Andersen’s 400-series windows.

For more information, click here.           

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