Window Retrofit Meets Expectations after Three Consecutive Winter and Summer Seasons
INOVUES, the climate and property-tech startup offering non-invasive facade retrofit solutions, has successfully completed its first longitudinal survey at the Saint-Gobain research campus in Northborough, Massachusetts. The successful three-year study was accompanied by an on-site visit by select Boston-area building owners and utility representatives from Eversource and National Grid.
The event also coincided with INOVUES’ addition to the The Massachusetts Technical Assessment Committee (MTAC) scorecard.
“INOVUES' retrofit technology is affordable and easy to implement, and it blends with the facade. Its impact on indoor comfort has been significant over the past three years. Given that it was INOVUES’ first pilot project I was amazed by the professionalism of the installation and I am still excited about the high and long-lasting quality of the window upgrade here at Saint-Gobain’s R&D center in Northborough, MA,” said Sven Harmsen, Director External Ventures, Saint-Gobain.
“The INOVUES system at Saint-Gobain has been providing outstanding thermal and acoustic benefits for the past three years, and looks as good today as the day it was installed,” said Anas Al Kassas, INOVUES Founder and CEO/CTO.
INOVUES’ retrofit solution for Saint-Gobain, the global manufacturer of advanced building materials, transformed double-glazed conference room windows into fully-sealed triple-glazed insulated windows.
The on-site condition survey confirmed the retrofit performs as intended after three consecutive winter and summer seasons. The desiccated thermal cavities between the INOVUES-added and existing glass lites continue to enhance the thermal and acoustic performance of the windows, as well as prevent water and air leakage and condensation, similar to factory-made insulating glass units (IGUs).
The survey was performed by INOVUES’ Director of Projects and Engineering, Paul Griese, an industry veteran with 25 years of construction and facade consulting experience.
“The retrofit looks like it was completed yesterday, and it is three years into service. The work by Lockheed is commendable. Now that we have visually confirmed the structural bond integrity, we are adding some interior trim to enhance the aesthetics,” said Griese.
The system was fabricated at Momentum Glass in Houston, Texas, and installed by Lockheed Architectural Solutions, Inc. Tailored to this particular project, the patented glazing retrofit system features an 8mm-thick safety glass. The custom-engineered heat-strengthened and laminated glass is a sandwich of two lites, precision fabricated with a small offset, whereby the exterior lite bypasses the lite facing the inside of the thermal cavity to create a frameless, glass-to-glass look.
INOVUES’ retrofit technology is adaptable and can accept any glass type, including dynamic, bird-friendly, and transparent PV glass. Regular clear glass with a low-e thermal performance coating was chosen for this installation to maintain a cohesive facade aesthetic, while reducing heat loss by 50%.
In on-site thermal imaging tests, the retrofitted windows recorded 12 °F (6.6 °C) higher interior surface temperature, reaching a comfortable 70 °F (21 °C), while the outdoor temperature was below freezing at 26 °F (-3 °C). A post-installation occupant survey showed that the retrofitted space had a more consistent interior temperature and was perceived as more comfortable.
Although visually indistinguishable from the original windows, the INOVUES retrofit has an added acoustic benefit, too. Based on third-party lab tests and field measurements conducted at a comparable project, the INOVUES system decreases exterior sound energy by 50% or more, minimizing disruptive outside noise.
INOVUES’ recent acceptance into the MTAC scorecard could also pave the way for utility-funded cash incentives towards implementing its non-invasive window and facade retrofits. The company collaborates with local utilities in other areas to partially fund projects, which is among the reasons representatives from Eversource and National Grid joined the Saint-Gobain visit.
The Massachusetts Technical Assessment Committee (MTAC) qualifies new building technologies’ energy conservation potential. Part of the Mass Save® commercial building energy efficiency program, it helps building owners achieve their energy and CO2 reduction goals, as well as comply with local carbon regulations such as Boston’s BERDO.
ABOUT INOVUES:
INOVUES makes existing buildings more energy-efficient and sustainable through a range of non-invasive insulating glass retrofit solutions. The company's patented technologies are engineered to integrate the latest glass innovations; are quick and easy to install; and do not require any removal, replacement, or disruption to normal building operations. INOVUES offers building owners and managers a high-ROI, low-carbon path to save up to 40% on energy consumption, improve indoor thermal and acoustic comfort, and increase the value and sustainability of the buildings. More information on the five-year-old, venture-backed company can be found at https://www.inovues.com.
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