> The researchers simulated how the material would behave in an actual-sized building in cities with cold winters like New York, Beijing and Calgary, showing it improved energy savings by 2.9% compared to existing alternatives. With over 4 billion square feet of new windows installed annually in the U.S. alone, the savings can add up.
So, at best, this would be a very modest incremental improvement.
Though, on the positive side:
> From a raw materials standpoint, boron nitride is less expensive than the silver or indium tin oxide used in most commercial low-E glass. Still, the researchers caution against direct cost comparisons, since the materials differ in durability, processing methods and technological maturity. Even so, the team sees promise in the coating's long-term performance, especially in harsh environments where existing materials fall short.
> The researchers simulated how the material would behave in an actual-sized building in cities with cold winters like New York, Beijing and Calgary, showing it improved energy savings by 2.9% compared to existing alternatives. With over 4 billion square feet of new windows installed annually in the U.S. alone, the savings can add up.
So, at best, this would be a very modest incremental improvement.
Though, on the positive side:
> From a raw materials standpoint, boron nitride is less expensive than the silver or indium tin oxide used in most commercial low-E glass. Still, the researchers caution against direct cost comparisons, since the materials differ in durability, processing methods and technological maturity. Even so, the team sees promise in the coating's long-term performance, especially in harsh environments where existing materials fall short.