Projects funded under the GLASING program will develop high performance Insulated Glass Units (IGUs) to improve the energy efficiency of windows in new and existing buildings. GLASING technologies will achieve more than three times the thermal performance of current day double-pane IGU technology at competitive cost and optical performance. GLASING technologies will revolutionize single- and double-hung windows, bay windows, casement windows, awning windows, skylights, and more. 

Find the GLASING Notice of Funding Opportunity here.

Windows are a major source of energy loss in buildings and are often the cause of poor building thermal performance. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, as of 2021 windows are responsible for close to a tenth of energy use in buildings. Reducing energy loss through windows will lower utility costs and carbon dioxide emissions as well as reduce demands on the electrical grid.  

Today’s mass market windows use technology that was developed over 50 years ago. Innovations such as using specialty gases, increasing gas layers between panes, or adding in thinner glass layers achieves better thermal performance, but the higher production costs, limited applications, and/or heavy weight for these innovative approaches have led to limited market penetration. Windows have much poorer thermal insulation capacity compared with walls: Windows typically have thermal resistance values between R-1 and R-3.5, while walls have R values between R-10 and R-30.

The GLASING program seeks to overcome technology barriers by encouraging developments in rapidly manufacturing vacuum insulated glazing, aerogels, and other areas. The program seeks to enable IGUs with R values greater than R-10 that are cost competitive with the most common window used today, the double-pane low-emission IGU. 

GLASING will support the research and development of new technologies and approaches for low-cost, highly insulating, retrofittable windows.