Electrochromic Windows for Land Ports of Entry

In sunny conditions, views through windows can be severely compromised by glare. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) conducted a pilot study of electrochromic windows at the Donna Land Port of Entry (LPOE) at the Texas border with Mexico. Researchers found a significant reduction in glare, along with high user satisfaction. View full-size infographic. [PDF - 230 KB]

GPG Findings 023, May 2015, ELECTROCHROMIC WINDOWS FOR LAND PORTS OF ENTRY. Opportunity: What is the potential benefit to Land Ports of Entry? PROVIDE DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT AN UNINTERRUPTED VISUAL PATH BETWEEN THE OBSERVER AND THE AREA UNDER SURVEILLANCE. Technology: How do electrochromic (EC)windows work? TRANSITION FROM CLEAR TO DARK USING PHOTOSENSOR READINGS AND SUN PATH CALCULATIONS. Measurement and Verification. Where did M and V occur? LAWRENCE BERKELEY NATIONAL LABORATORY measured glare reduction and occupant satisfaction with electrochromic windows at the Donna Land Port of Entry along the Texas border with Mexico. Results: How did electrochromic windows perform in M&V? GLARE REDUCTION BELOW PERCEPTIBLE GLARE THRESHOLD.(Electrochromic Window Demonstration at the Donna Land Port of Entry. Eleanor S. Lee (LBNL), May 2015, p.4) NIGHTIME VISIBILITY REDUCED WITH INCREASED INTERIOR REFLECTION.100% USER PREFERENCE OVER CONVENTIONAL WINDOWS. (Ibid, p.4) Daylight Glare Probability (DGP) in Vehicle Inspection Booths Facing West Booth with EC windows has much lower glare throughout a sunny afternoon. DGP is a metric for visual comfort, with values from 0 to 1, representing the probability that a person would experience disturbing glare in a particular situation. EC Windows had a glare below .35 the level of perceptible glare. Deployment: Where does M&V recommend deploying electrochromic windows? LAND PORTS OF ENTRYAnd other facilities where window glare compromises mission-critical outdoor visibility. Subject to evaluation and approval by GSA-IT and Security [PDF - 230 KB]


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Last Reviewed: 2022-05-06