Add more privacy with silver glass
To keep your home private, there are a range of methods and products you can use. Most of us put curtains up around our windows to retain heat and prevent prying eyes from looking in. We can also use net curtains, horizontal blinds, vertical blinds and voile panels. But dressing windows isn’t always desirable, and many homeowners are looking for alternatives.
If you’re thinking of replacing your windows, and you’re also concerned about privacy, a new invention – silver glass – could soon provide an affordable answer. Not only does it provide a screen, it can also be used to vary the amount of sunlight – and therefore, heat – getting into your home.
What Does Silver Glass Do?
You’ve probably seen windows that go opaque at a touch of a button. These windows can be expensive, although they certainly add class and bling. Adjustable opacity is ideal for bringing extra light into bathrooms and rooms that fade onto roads.
The trouble is, these windows are very expensive. For most homeowners, the cost is prohibitive. But a new type of silver opaque window offers similar functionality at a more affordable price point.
Silver windows actually have three layers: a sheet of glass, and a top and bottom layer made up of silver wires on elastomer. These wires are activated using an electrical current, which makes them attract each other into random patterns.
The end result is a window that is not completely opaque, but one that has a mottled appearance. This is a really good way to shield your home from people passing by, while still giving you a view through the frosty, cloudy glass.
This is brand new technology, so we won’t see it on the market for a few years. It’s being developed at the John A Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University. But as the window needs no chemicals, it’s likely to be met with an enthusiastic reaction when it finally gets licensed for domestic use.
Saving Energy
Energy efficiency is about keeping heat into the home in winter, while also ensuring we stop rooms from getting too hot. While us Brits rarely have this problem, it’s important for people in warmer climates. They tend to use air conditioning for most of the summer, which adds an extra efficiency need.
Silver windows could provide an affordable way to control temperature, filtering the intense heat of the summer sun. Eventually, we will almost certainly see this technology come to our roof lanterns, conservatories, orangeries and glass extensions, to ensure a comfortable feel all year round – with the bonus of extra privacy.
Modern Glazing Solutions
If you need specialist advice to solve a glazing problem in your home, speak to the experts at Hamiltons. We keep abreast of the latest technology while staying committed to old-fashioned customer service. To arrange a site visit, or have a quick chat about your plans, give our experienced glaziers a call today.
