Elementa Publish ‘Chasing Transparency’ White Paper – exploring the Merck Liquid Crystal Window (LCW) & its performance in relation to façade design challenges

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges our global communities currently face, requiring a drastic reduction in carbon emissions to slow its effects. Buildings, which account for more than 30% of global carbon emissions, are a key component of the climate change mitigation solution and many cities around the world have committed to minimising the environmental impact of their new and existing building stock. The building’s facade, which provides an interface between the indoor and outdoor environments, has become a crucial factor in the performance of today’s buildings.

Elementa have recently teamed up with Merck Window Technologies B.V. on a joint research project, exploring the Merck Liquid Crystal Window (LCW) and its performance in relation to facade design challenges. The dynamic glazing product is set to address several limitations of existing market alternatives with its neutral colour-rendering and ability to rapidly switch between clear and tinted states. Throughout the study, the Merck LCW is compared with established façade design solutions, such as closed-cavity façade systems, fixed external shading and solar control coatings, to establish how the technology fits within the industry’s palette of options.

Bruce Nicol, Head of Global Design at Merck commented, “Working with the team at Elementa provided Merck the opportunity to let a team of independent professionals look closely at what our liquid crystal technology can truly bring as beneficial to facade design and energy efficiency, along with an appraisal of actual occupant wellbeing and comfort. The resultant white paper has proved to be very intriguing with far better conclusions than we had anticipated. The freshness Elementa brought in approaching the study has made for an easily accessible document of what could become a series of study works as we push the properties of the flexible dynamic glass technology further.”

The following whitepaper “Chasing Transparency” documents this research and was launched by Elementa’s Associate Principal, David Barker and Merck’s Bruce Nicol to 40 industry leading professionals in a breakfast seminar hosted at Elementa’s headquarters in London. You can view or download the whitepaper here:

You can also click on the video to hear Associate Principal, David Barker describe the study and Merck glass attributes.