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Windows that become mirrors at the flip of a switch
A fancy new glass has been developed in Japan, one that promises to cut down on the energy usage of buildings everywhere. It looks like a normal window regularly, but at the flip of a switch it turn to a mirror. How does this affect energy costs, you ask? Walk with me.
When used as exterior windows, the mirrors can deflect the sun on hot days. This keeps the interior cool, cutting down on AC costs. When the temperature drops, you can turn the windows back into regular windows, letting the warm sun filter on through and lowering heating costs. It's win/win, really. Plus it would be really cool to see someone flip the switch and an entire skyscraper suddenly don a mirrored shell. Heck, if it isn't too outrageously expensive I don't see why this couldn't catch on in residential building as well. Time will tell.
By seannicholls at 3:36 PM ON 02/01/07
That would be incredibly cool. However, at the risk of putting a downer on the whole 'master plan'... this could never work in a major metropolitan area.
can you imagine skyscrapers that are reflecting the sun's rays into the eyes of drivers while driving in rush-hour traffic, or worse yet due to the reflection between buildings, the magnification of the rays into a 'hotspot'.
Its a good idea, but unless your building is located on private property or a large commersial block, I would highly doubt such windows would either be legal or safe.
Ps.
wouldnt this completely muck up satelite images? all they'd see is a big round blurry white spot.
By biotube at 7:21 PM ON 02/01/07
Big blurry white spots can hide terrible things.
By sharewaresoftware at 4:57 AM ON 02/02/07
That is very cool
By donclarkatlanta at 9:44 AM ON 02/02/07
Um, sean... I don't know where you live...
but here in D/FW Texas, most of the major buildings downtown ALREADY use a type of mirror glass, although it doesn't have on / off capabilities such as this. And I'm sure the corporate big wigs don't care about rush hour traffic... the sun already does a good job of getting in your eyes if you so happen to be driving into the sun, basically I drive into the sun in the morning, and into it again coming home.
By noodlepoodle at 9:50 AM ON 02/02/07
Shoot- DonClark already posted this...
From my experience around the country, It seems that about 95% of every large building uses mirrored glass, so evidently it is a problem we're okay with.
Of course Sean may have been joking- it's hard to tell on a post.
Now imagine if the system went haywire, and the windows were flipping between mirror and regular...a few times a second. Now THAT would be annoying.
By TheAverageWhiteGuy at 3:50 PM ON 02/02/07
Although I agree that a mirrored exterior would be a nuissance for passing drivers and pedestrians, it's never stopped them before. Consider my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. We've got a plaza called PPG Plaza. (PPG stands for Pittsburgh Plate Glass), and all three buildings in the plaza are made with semi-transparent, highly-reflective glass. Google for "PPG Plaza" or go here:
http://www.scholarsresource.com/browse/work/2144578089
and see for yourself. Oh, btw...I'd love to know how this glass works!
By seannicholls at 6:20 PM ON 02/02/07
I wasnt joking...
I live in Ireland, where skyscrapers are only a dream. as are reasonable prices, and a season of battlestar galactica shown the same time as in the US.
By morepowerr at 8:22 PM ON 02/02/07
Now just put it in you bathroom with a LCD TV in the wall behind and you set. Or above your dresser with TV behind it.
By ninopapa at 3:10 AM ON 02/03/07
yes, but what if you could outfit your car with these windows? .. and bounce the sun rays right back ;)
By princess at 6:22 PM ON 04/24/08
where can I buy one for a residential home?
By Donna at 5:26 AM ON 06/13/08
I have seen in a home renovating magazine (dont know which one) some time a go a renovated bathroom where the windows exterior were changed into mirrors. I would really love to know where I can get glass/mirror that can do this can you helpt
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Donna:
I have seen in a home renovating magazine (dont know which one) some time a go a renovated bathroom where the windo...More »