ClearVue picks up prestigious US Greenbuild technology gong

ASX-listed Solar glazing innovator ClearVue Technologies has picked up the “Most Innovative Solution” gong at Greenbuild 2024, the biggest annual event for green building professionals worldwide, following a people’s hoice innovation online seminar.

The webinar, which invited a live audience to vote for the best solutions, shone a light on its integrated solar façade system which the company says is a sustainable game-changer for net zero building initiatives.

The company believes the award will also almost certainly help lift its profile at the upcoming Greenbuild International Conference and Expo being held in Philadelphia in two weeks’ time in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council.

ClearVue’s product line, which includes transparent solar vision glass, cladding, railings and skylights, has been designed to convert conventional building exteriors into energy-generating glass façades.

Its integrated glazing units (IGUs) are clear, double-glazed glass panels which have a special laminated layer sandwiched in between. The laminated proprietary technology interlayer is packed with nano and microparticles.

When sunlight hits the glass, the layer activates, capturing UV and infrared light. The resulting energy then gets funnelled to thin solar strips embedded around the inner edges of the window. From there, the solar strips work their magic, turning the captured energy into electricity.

We see extending the solar energy generation to the façade as a means of exponentially increasing the surface area available for solar while decreasing the operational carbon footprint of the building envelope.

Mowrey went on to point out the advantages of expanding solar generation beyond rooftops, which often contend with limited space occupied by air conditioning, plumbing, electrical and other infrastructure. Notably, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings initiative points out the external parts of a building account for almost 30 per cent of the primary energy consumed in that building.

Studies by ClearVue on archetype buildings ranging from 6 to 40 stories across 15 cities worldwide concluded its façade solutions could potentially offset between 60 per cent and 100 per cent of a building’s energy requirements, depending on window-to-wall ratio and its geolocation.

Importantly, under the terms of the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) legislation which will see a massive US$783 billion (AU$1.2 trillion) spent addressing climate change, installations of ClearVue products may also qualify for substantial federal Investment Tax Credits (ITC) and other local incentives, potentially reducing costs and in some regions, avoiding penalties for non-compliance with environmental standards.

ClearVue’s latest award also comes hot on the heels of news the company’s solar glazing solution has been selected as one of eight finalists out of more than 6500 contestants of the Hong Kong Green Tech Challenge. The prestigious competition is jointly managed by green funder, Carbonless Asia and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) as a vehicle to push sustainable innovation in Hong Kong’s real estate and construction industry.

ClearVue looks to be punching above its weight on the international stage and its latest global accolade would suggest its decision to expand to the US and set up offices in San Jose a few months ago is starting to pay dividends.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@wanews.com.au