Climate Tech Startup Demonstrates Its Ability to Slash Building Energy Use and Carbon Emissions on a Larger Scale
Houston, September 1, 2021 - INOVUES, the window technology company that enables existing building facades to be more energy-efficient without replacement or disruption, announced today that its first project in the Pacific Northwest was completed at a fraction of the cost and ten times faster than a traditional window replacement project.
At a time when building owners are urgently being encouraged to reduce energy use and cut carbon emissions, making the process easier critically saves time and money. Replacing the windows for example, which account for up to 40% of building energy loss, is one of the most effective solutions, but it is expensive, disruptive, and takes months to complete.
INOVUES has developed a non-invasive, overglaze window retrofit system, the Glazing Shield™, that provides the same benefits of window replacement at a fraction of the cost and time, and without disruption – as this project demonstrates.
After a successful pilot at Northview Center, a 1991 class-A office building in Greater Seattle, INOVUES retrofitted all existing single-pane windows in the building in record time, and the installation was done from the exterior without disrupting the tenants or risking their health and safety during COVID.
With all parties wanting to have the project complete before winter, INOVUES fabricated the window retrofits within just four weeks after signing the contract and completed the installation in about two weeks, for a total contract to project completion time of seven weeks. In comparison, replacing the existing windows would have required securing a construction permit, relocating the tenants and office furniture, demolishing the existing window walls, fabricating new custom window frames and glass, installing the new windows, and then moving everyone back into the space – a process that takes months, not weeks.
“We were able to show that window upgrades do not have to be expensive, disruptive, or time-consuming anymore,” said INOVUES CEO and Founder Anas Al Kassas. “Our insulating glass retrofits transformed the existing windows in-situ, helping our client achieve their sustainability goals and retain their tenants during the COVID crisis.”
Windows retrofitted with INOVUES Glazing Shields now have nearly triple the insulating value, saving money and making occupants more comfortable.
In addition to reducing energy loss, improving thermal comfort was one of the primary reasons the building owners wanted to upgrade the existing inefficient windows. One of the initially considered options was to try to replace the glass only. However, just like in most cases, the window wall framing system was not designed to accommodate thicker, insulating glass units (IGUs). INOVUES’ insulating glass retrofits transformed the inefficient single-glazed window walls into high performing double-glazed systems that now have nearly triple the insulating value without removing, replacing, drilling, or altering anything at all. By utilizing the existing window framing and glass as part of the solution – rather than ripping them out and throwing them into landfills – INOVUES’ low-carbon retrofit solution consumed approximately 70 percent fewer materials than a full window replacement.
The following thermal images illustrate the significant reduction in heat loss through the windows before and after the retrofit. The tenants have noticed a big improvement in the interior temperature and no longer feel their workspace is too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.
One thing the tenants did not notice was a change in the appearance of the building, and that was by design. Maintaining the building’s aesthetics was an important point for the client, who were concerned that replacing the single-glazed window walls on the first floor would alter the look of the building facade. INOVUES’ pilot, which acted as on-building mock-up, helped illustrate the minimal visual impact of the INOVUES retrofit system.
Before the retrofit.
After the retrofit: tenants did not notice the change.
There is tremendous potential for carbon emissions reduction by reducing building energy use, but for that to be accomplished, retrofits need to be faster to complete, more convenient, more affordable, and more desirable. The INOVUES project in Seattle is a perfect example of how this can be done. Also, INOVUES has partnered with the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) to incentivize building owners in the Pacific Northwest to retrofit poor-performing windows. Over the entire INOVUES Glazing Shield's lifespan of at least 20 years, the estimated energy savings and carbon emissions reduction from the INOVUES retrofit of part of the Northview Center will amount to over 2 billion Btu or 586 thousand kWh, which is equivalent to 415 metric tons of CO2. On average, retrofitting a single-pane window in a commercial building in the US with INOVUES' insulating glass retrofit can save 101 thousand Btu or 30 kWh per square foot per year. INOVUES has received several awards for its patented technology and was featured by Bill Gates' Breakthrough Energy in their 2021 Climate Action Playbook as a solution to remedy the significant energy loss from windows in existing buildings. Learn more about the benefits of INOVUES' insulating glass retrofits by signing up for a webinar here, and visit INOVUES at the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) 2021 International Conference and Expo in Boston this October, booth 1324. ABOUT INOVUES: INOVUES transforms existing building facades and windows into high-performing systems that incorporate the latest energy-saving and smart glass innovations without removal or replacement. Through its patented insulating glass retrofit technology, INOVUES offers building owners a high-ROI, non-disruptive solution to save up to 40% on energy consumption, improve occupant thermal and acoustic comfort, and increase the value and sustainability of the building. For more information, visit the INOVUES website. Press Contact: Hannah Miller pr@inovues.com