Retrofit Glass System for Commercial Energy Efficiency Improvements

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iWindow: Revolutionary Low Cost Commercial Glass Retrofit System

Without replacing the existing glass or altering the exterior appearance of the building, iWindow enables rapid glazing retrofits of commercial buildings - at a fraction of the cost compared to full window replacements. You can address the two biggest reasons for occupant complaints with one fast upgrade.

With super-insulating SeriousGlass, iWindow thermal comfort is assured, and noise is reduced by over 50% (download STC Test Report here). You’ll pocket the energy savings, but more than that — you’ll have a higher value property where people can be comfortable and productive. Read how iWindow improves comfort and saves energy for building owners and occupants.

iWindow Datasheet

Sound Transmission Testing Conducted on iWindow

Highlights
Performance
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Case Studies
FAQs
Installation
Documents

Core Benefits
For Owners
For Property Managers
For Facility Managers
For Consultants

iWindow™ uses the same SeriousGlass technology that dramatically improved the comfort and energy efficiency of all 6,514 windows at the Empire State Building. Increased tenant occupancy and higher lease rates have also been realized by the Empire State Building. That same SeriousGlass technology is now packaged in iWindow™, a revolutionary low-cost, low-disruption solution designed to install into virtually any building.

iWindow™ creates a much higher performance building envelope by delivering up to 7 times the heat retention of single-pane glass while also reducing unwanted heat-gain from direct sunlight by up to two-thirds during summer months.

For building occupants, iWindow™ improves building comfort and thus productivity.

For building owners, iWindow™ enhances asset value by making a building more comfortable and thus desirable.

For building operators and managers, iWindow™ drives down operating costs.

Other iWindow Benefits

Lower cost: 50% - 75% less than a full window replacement.
No disruption: installs easily from the inside, onto the existing glass frame. No tear-out. No waste.
Fast installation: installs in 20 minutes or less.
No change to exterior appearance of building.
Increased thermal performance of single pane aluminum systems, improving full-frame R-value from R-0.8 up to R-3.9 (U-factor 1.2 to 0.255) and center of glass R-value from R-1.0 up to R-7.2 (U-factor 1.0 to 0.14)
Improved inside glass surface temperatures
Over 50% noise reduction; iWindow acoustical performance is up to 16 STC points better than single-pane.
99.5% UV blockage reduces fading and damage to interior furnishings

Breaking Through the Cost-Barrier: The Rapid ROI Window Upgrade for Improving Comfort & Reducing Operational Costs

iWindow™ is a revolutionary window upgrade solution that breaks through the cost-barrier of a traditional full window tear-out replacement. At 50% - 75% less to install than other solutions, iWindow™ generates rapid payback (typically 4-7 years depending on climate, building type, utility costs and other factors). This revolutionary system delivers both comfort benefits, improved overall building performance, and operational and energy cost savings – all without replacing the existing glass or altering the exterior appearance of the building. More comfortable tenants means more satisfied tenants, which supports greater tenant retention, higher occupancy rates and even higher lease rates.

The No-Disruption Window Upgrade

Each iWindow™ can be installed in 20 minutes or less and is internally mounted. This preserves the exterior appearance of the building and causes virtually no disruption to occupants or tenants.

Increasing the Value of Your Buildings

iWindow™ evolved out of the innovative approach to upgrading the 6,514 dual pane windows of the Empire State Building with SeriousGlass technology – all existing glass was reused and disruption to tenants was completely avoided. The whole-building energy retrofit of the Empire State Building created a more valuable building for both the building owner and tenants – resulting in increased rental rates, attraction of new tenants, and longer lease terms.

iWindow™ Benefits to Building Owners:

Reduced operating costs from heating and cooling energy savings
Increased comfort and productivity of occupants or tenants, thereby increasing the building's desirability and thus asset value
Reduced Hot/Cold Calls frees up facility staff for more proactive and value-added building maintenance activities
99.5% of UV ray blockage provides unparalled skin protection for occupants and prevents fading of furnishings
15 Year iWindow™ warranty is fully transferrable to any subsequent building owners

Property Manager

As a property manager, you are always balancing the needs of your tenants with bottom line performance your building ownership demands. iWindow™ offers an easy, low-cost solution to add value for both tenants and owners – in a way never before possible. For building owners, iWindow™ immediately reduces operating costs through energy savings for improved net operating income. For occupants, iWindow™ increases comfort, productivity, and health. More comfortable tenants means more satisfied tenants, which supports greater tenant retention, higher occupancy rates and even higher lease rates.

No-Disruption Solution

At 50-75% of the cost compared to full window replacement, iWindow™ can be installed in 20 minutes or less by internally mounting. This preserves the exterior appearance of the building and causes virtually no disruption to occupants or tenants.

More Valuable Buildings

Improving the comfort, productivity, and health of occupants is critical to increasing building value. Independent studies have shown that quiet office spaces improve employee productivity, and upgrades that increase natural daylighting can lead to decreased absenteeism and higher productivity.

Several studies suggest that property managers who help improve the quality of indoor environments for tenants are able to be more competitive today and more profitable in the long term. According to McGraw Hill, energy efficiency improvements can consistently command higher rental rates, offer faster letting, and secure greater occupancy, thereby increasing the overall value of the building. As an example, the whole-building energy retrofit of the Empire State Building—including window upgrades with the same SeriousGlass technology found in iWindow™– resulted in increased rental rates, attraction of new tenants, and longer lease terms in this iconic building.

Everyone Wins with iWindow

You'll be recognized by your tenants for making their day more comfortable and more productive by creating a greatly improved indoor environment. Your facility management team will appreciate the reduced occupant Hot/Cold calls so they are free to attend to more proactive and value-added maintenance work. And building ownership will certainly appreciate the reduced building operating expense from your recommendation to invest in a rapid ROI solution that ultimately creates more valuable buildings.

Building Owners Win with iWindow™

Reduced operating costs from heating and cooling energy savings
Increased comfort and productivity of occupants or tenants, thereby increasing the building's desirability and overall asset value
Reduced tenant Hot/Cold Calls frees up facility staff for more proactive and valuable building maintenance activities
99.5% of UV ray blockage provides unparalled skin protection for occupants and prevents fading of furnishings
15 Year iWindow™ warranty is fully transferrable to any subsequent building owners

Tenants Win with iWindow™

Increased year-round comfort through reduced heat loss in winter months and unwanted heat from sunlight in summer months
Reduced noise transmission
99.5% UV blockage for unparalleled window protection against skin damage
Improved daylighting and reduced glare

Facility Manager

Are you constantly responding to hot calls/cold calls from tenants near the windows?
Are you looking for a cost-effective, practical solution to relieve occupants from brutal morning or afternoon solar heat and/or excruciating cold by the windows during cold weather?
Are you tired of over-heating and over-cooling the most difficult part of your building to control – the perimeter--due to poor windows?

iWindow™ is a new solution to address occupant discomfort — and cost savings — in ways you may never have thought possible. iWindow™ let's you address your windows – often the weakest link in the building from both a comfort and energy efficiency perspective -- without a full tear-out to the existing glass. iWindow™ is an easy-to-install, internally mounted system that gives you the ability to generate savings and improve occupant comfort. The reduced hot and cold calls can free up you and your staff to focus on more proactive and valuable building operations and maintenance activities. iWindow™ installs in 20 minutes or less--with no more than a power drill required—creating virtually no disruption to your occupants.

Best of all, you'll be recognized for solving some of the most persistent daily annoyances to your occupants, whether it be thermal discomfort, noise, or glare. And your building owners will certainly value saving energy and thus reducing operating costs every month.

Tenants Win with iWindow™:

Increased year-round comfort through reduced heat loss in winter months and unwanted heat from sunlight in summer months
Reduced noise transmission
99.5% UV blockage for unparalleled window protection against skin damage
Improved daylighting and reduced glare

Building Owners Win with iWindow™:

Reduced operating costs from heating and cooling energy savings
Increased comfort and productivity of occupants or tenants, thereby increasing the building's desirability and overall asset value
Reduced tenant Hot/Cold Calls frees up facility staff for more proactive and valuable building maintenance activities
99.5% of UV ray blockage provides unparalled skin protection for occupants and prevents fading of furnishings
15 Year iWindow™ warranty is fully transferrable to any subsequent building owners

Thermal
Powered By SeriousGlass
Test Reports

Super-Insulating Thermal Performance

iWindow increases the thermal performance of single or dual pane windows, improving full-frame R-value from R-0.8 up to R-3.9 (U-factor 1.2 to 0.25) and center of glass R-value from R-1.0 up to R-7.2 (U-factor of 1.0 to 0.14).

Superior Comfort Benefits

iWindow directly solves typical complaints related to the comfort levels and indoor environment of building occupants and tenants. iWindow addresses winter comfort factors which are largely driven by inside window surface temperatures. Initial iWindow customer installations have proven to improve inside glass surface temperatures, making it more comfortable to work and sit near windows. Warmer glass temperature in winter months and cooler glass temperature in summer months can also result in temperature setpoint changes (decrease in winter and increase in summer), resulting in reduced HVAC costs. In addition, iWindow can reduce exterior noise transmission and enables tuned solar control according to a building’s unique climate zone and orientation with low and high solar gain SeriousGlass packages.

Tuned Solar Control

Powered by a range of low and high solar heat gain SeriousGlass packages, iWindow enables tuned solar control according to a building’s unique location and orientation relative to the sun. With customized low-E coatings on the glass and the use of suspended film technology, SeriousGlass enables iWindow to allow exactly the right amount of solar heat into your building, resulting in thermal efficiency and many occupant comfort benefits.

General FAQs
iWindow vs. Film

iWindow FAQs

What is iWindow? iWindow is a custom-built, interior mounted, retrofit glass system for aluminum storefront, curtain wall, and window wall that delivers unprecedented thermal performance at a fraction of the cost of full glass replacement.

What is the targeted fenestration system for iWindow? iWindow performs best and shows the quickest ROI when installed on older, single-glazed aluminum framed wall systems that display poor stand-alone thermal performance.

Is field assembly required? No. The iWindow panel will arrive at the site fully assembled, with the mounting tracks and screw covers finished to match and ready for trimming to fit the opening.

What is a typical installation time? Since iWindow is shipped fully assembled, installation time on a typical curtain wall opening is as little as 20 minutes. As project conditions vary, installation times may vary as well.

What work needs to be done to the existing window prior to installing iWindow? Prior to installing the iWindow system, the existing system should examined for air and water infiltration and sealed as necessary. The existing glass should be cleaned and the condition should be inspected for loose paint or caulking, which should be removed and repaired.

Will condensation be a problem? The likelihood of condensation is very low, primarily due to the multiple insulating chambers. Condensation occurs when the interior surface temperature of the window assembly falls below the dew point of the adjacent air. The potential for interior condensation increases in buildings in colder climates, particularly if the interior is humidified during cold weather. As the iWindow can provide up to 4 times the insulating value of typical older monolithic glazing, the indoor glass temperature will be significantly higher, thus lessening the potential for condensation. In the rare event that condensation does occur, iWindow is designed to distribute any moisture away.

Do I need to be concerned about thermal stress glass breakage? When iWindow is installed in an existing opening with a single 6mm lite of either clear or tinted glass, thermal stress breakage is not a concern. In cases where the existing exterior lite is other than described above, we highly recommend that you consult with your Serious Materials Sales representative prior to ordering to insure that a thermal stress analysis is performed.

Is Heat Strengthened and / or Fully Tempered glass available for iWindow? Yes, both are available as options for iWindow. While not required in most installations, it is advisable to consult local building code officials prior to ordering to be sure that your project is in full compliance.

Do I need to be concerned about the added weight on my curtain wall system? Since the iWindow system uses a unique vertical mounting track, when properly installed the majority of the weight of the iWindow is transferred to the vertical members of the existing system. The integrity of the existing system and its ability to support the added weight of iWindow should be analyzed by a structural engineer prior to installation.

My opening is larger than the maximum size for iWindow, is there some way to still use it? Two iWindow units can be used to span larger openings with the use of a structural mulling tube. Please consult your Serious Materials Sales Consultant for further details.

Which iWindow glass package should I chose for my project? Serious Materials offers both low and high solar gain glass packages for iWindow. Which package is used depends on the design intent of the project, however Serious Materials recommends that the low solar gain package be used on projects where the existing glazing is clear, and the high solar gain package be utilized on projects where the existing glazing is tinted. The concept of spectrally selective ‘tuning’ is also possible with iWindow, whereby the low solar gain package is used on the southern & western facades to reduce summertime solar gain, and the high solar gain package is used on the northern & eastern facades to take advantage of wintertime solar gain.

Which glass thickness should I use for my project? Glass thickness should be chosen based on square footage of the iWindow unit. Units 20 square feet or less can utilize 3mm lites, units between 20 – 30 square feet should use 5mm lites, and units larger than 30 square feet will be furnished with 6mm lites.

How much insulating value, or “thermal performance” and thus energy savings, can iWindow provide compared to tinted window film?

iWindow provides up to 7x the thermal performance of existing windows for significant comfort and energy savings benefits in both summer and winter. A full-building upgrade of single-pane windows to iWindow significantly increases the insulation benefits (i.e., R-value/U-factor) of the building envelope. Film only reduces some unwanted heat gain (i.e., solar control) for only marginal comfort and energy savings. Furthermore, no film product can credibly promise anywhere near iWindow’s typical 10-25% annual energy savings in a building.

How much noise reduction does iWindow provide compared to that of tinted window film?

iWindow reduces exterior noise heard in the building by as much as 50% over that of existing windows. No window film product possesses any such acoustic benefits. In Sound Transmission Class (STC) tests conducted by an independent acoustics laboratory, iWindow improved the STC score of a single-pane window in a typical commercial curtain wall system from 28 to as high as 44.(1)Sound Transmission Class (STC) tests (ATEM EM 90) conducted by Stork Twin City Testing Corporation on October 28, 2011. Stork Twin City Testing has been accredited by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under NIST’s National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) for conducting ASTM E90 test procedure. The full test report can be viewed here.

How does iWindow compare to window film in terms of unwanted heat from direct sun, or “solar heat gain?”

iWindow’s control of unwanted heat gain, or solar control, is delivered without sacrificing as much visible light as most film applications. This results in retaining more natural lighting within the building. In fact, in many instances, iWindow can deliver the same or better solar control compared to film, while allowing 2-5 times more visible light into the building to better enable daylighting strategies and potentially even reduce lighting costs.

How does iWindow’s ease of installation compare with that of window film?

In most cases, iWindow can be installed by personnel with light carpentry skills and each iWindow unit typically installs in 20 minutes or less. Applying window film demands a high level of experience and skill. Installation quality is the major factor determining the long-term performance and stability of the film’s color and overall appearance.

How does iWindow’s durability compare to that of window film?

iWindow carries a 15-year full manufacturer’s warranty—versus the commercial window industry’s standard 10 year warranty—and it is designed to last 20 years or more. Most film applications last no more than 10 years, with product degradation such as unsightly peeling and/or cracking often appearing even sooner. Moreover, window film is often difficult and thus costly to remove once peeling and/or cracking has begun. This often puts building owners and operators in the difficult position of having to choose whether to preserve a building’s aesthetics with costly and disruptive premature film removal (and possible re-application) before the end of the film’s useful life.

How does iWindow price/performance compare to that of window film?

The iWindow solution is a compelling value when compared to a window film. For commercial buildings with existing single-pane windows, the installed cost of iWindow is typically about twice the installed cost of film. Given its superior thermal,solar control and noise reduction, as well as about twice useful life, iWindow provides far more than twice the value of window film to building occupants and owners.