From Drexel Smart House

Architectural Coatings - Vacuum Insulated Window With Polarization

• Instructor: Dr. Schauer
• Section: 026
• Group: 03

• Group Members:
  • Charles Zebley cjz27@drexel.edu
  • Matthew Grossman mjg323@drexel.edu
  • Colin Anthony cja37@drexel.edu
  • Diego Panesso
  • Chloe Bach ccb44@drexel.edu

Abstract

   The main objective of “Going Green” is to conserve energy and the impact one has on the environment.  
One aspect of energy conservation deals with efficiency of heating and cooling in houses.  The 
conventional window has become the weakest thermal fabric in a building (Muneer 2000).   This means 
that the most heat is gained and lost through windows via radiation transfer.  Regarding energy 
conservation, this aspect of homes is causing a great deal of energy to be wasted.  Reducing the amount 
of heat transferred through conduction and radiation can cause a large efficiency increase and 
therefore, make homes more “Green.”  Implementing the polarization of windows and creating a vacuum 
within the panes can combat both radiation and conduction transfer rate.  Polarization can directly 
reflect ultra violet radiation from the sun and the vacuum interior can dramatically reduce the amount of 
heat transferred through the panes.  Because theoretically there is no matter in a vacuum, there is no 
medium for which heat can transfer across.  In order to make this a viable commercialized unit, 
consideration must be made about several materials such as a pump to pump out air from between the panes 
and polarized sheeting to simulate a polarized layer on the window.  Taking the type and construction of 
the materials into consideration, a window of this magnitude is plausible for creation.

Problem Statement

   More money is spent on heating and cooling by conduction, convection, and radiation through the window 
unit, when in fact, that money can easily be saved by installing a more efficient window.  Efforts have 
been made by various companies, such as Guardian Industries, to develop a commercialized window that 
will combat all three of these heat transferring incidences; however, these efforts are still in the 
process and are too costly for the average American.  As a group, we wish to develop a less costly way 
to replicate the results of today’s high end VIG (vacuum-insulated glass) windows.  Through the 
inspection of different materials and their combination to create an innovative and effective window 
unit, we are attempting to make this ‘Smart’ window available to the public at a much reasonable price.