Worldwide innovator of high performance, energy-saving films and glass products, Southwall Technologies Inc., has received a USD 1.43-million stimulus grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE) for …
Worldwide innovator of high performance, energy-saving films and glass products, Southwall Technologies Inc., has received a USD 1.43-million stimulus grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE) for the development of advanced technologies to make homes and buildings more energy efficient. Southwall said that it will use the funding to accelerate development of higher performance and lower cost Heat Mirror low-emissivity and solar-reflective films and multi-cavity, suspended-film insulating glass technology, thus enabling the broad commercialization of “super-insulating” R-10 windows. According to DOE, in the US, 114 million homes and 74 million sq.ft. of commercial floor space make up for 40% of US total energy consumption and 39% of total carbon dioxide emissions. DOE is therefore focusing grant funding on the development of innovative technologies to create energy-saving windows that insulate like walls. “The designation of Southwall as a DOE grant recipient recognizes our leadership in developing lightweight, multi-cavity insulating glass technology that promises to drive the performance of a new generation of cost-effective and energy-efficient windows,” said Dennis Capovilla, Southwall chief executive officer. “We are pleased that DOE is working closely with industry to accelerate disruptive technology innovation that can dramatically reduce our nation“s energy use.” Southwall is among the seven California-based companies, which include National Semiconductor and Applied Materials, to receive a DOE grant for advanced energy-efficient building technology projects.