Seeing the world better
- Posted by Dan on July 26th, 2007 filed in Homes and housing, Manufacturing
Let the windows look after themselves
This weekend, as I was cleaning around the house, I thought of a new opportunity for window manufacturers. Cleaning big windows can be a burden, especially since they are becoming more and more fashionable.
How can this be made easier? Cleaning has always been a messy, smelly, labor-intensive job. What about a nano-thin layer on the pane’s exterior surface that uses sunlight to break down dirt and grime so they do not stick to the surface? The layer causes water to sheet smoothly down the surface rather than spotting or streaking, so rainwater or a quick squirt from the garden hose is all it takes to make the windows clean and spot-free. Adding relatively little to the cost of a new or replacement window, self-cleaning glass delivers a huge benefit in reduced maintenance.
This idea is not yet implemented in Romania, but two of the leading global manufacturers in the glass industry, Pikington and Pittsburgh Plate Glass have successfully implemented it elsewhere. Self cleaning glass costs about 20% more, but requires less than half the normal maintenance. Maybe it could even work in passive houses, provided there are incentives for manufacturers. Sounds like a winner for large glass surfaces!
Written by Dan
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