Expected to open in 2007, Twin Lakes Elementary School in Elk River, Minn., will feature electronically tintable SageGlass® windows installed in the building's science center. At the push of a button, the glass will switch from a clear to highly tinted state, actively controlling daylight, heat gain and glare, while maintaining the view outdoors. These benefits along with other sustainable design strategies aid the school district's pursuit of U.S. Green Building Council's Gold Certification under the LEED Rating System®. In addition to contributing to its learning environment, the innovative window system will be become part of the curriculum for the school's 750 students. "One of the main drivers of the design and construction of this $18 million project is energy conservation, and that is one of the things that spurred our choice of SageGlass units," says Bratlie. "This product's capacity for suppressing solar heat gain will result in significant cooling and heating savings for Twin Lakes." "This is our first use of SageGlass products, and we are excited," says Mike Schrock, a principal in Schrock DeVetter Architects, P.A., "We designed Twin Lakes in accordance with high-performance building standards and 100% daylighting concepts, so it made good sense to incorporate sustainable tintable window technology that promotes daylighting and adds to the building's quality of life." Schrock notes that the building has many dormers and clerestory windows, giving it an "old school" flavor that harkens back to a time when large windows and other daylighting elements were hallmarks of school buildings. Leaders in electrochromic technology for more than 15 years, SAGE Electrochromics, Inc. electronically tintable glass products are available to the international architectural building market. Consistently proven reliable for use in exterior building applications, SageGlass® products help reduce energy bills by controlling solar heat gain and increase worker productivity by allowing additional daylighting, minimizing glare, and enhancing occupant comfort.
