FAQ

WHAT IS WATER-FILLED GLASS’S MISSION?

OUR VISION IS TO USE WATER-FILLED GLASS (WFG) TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS AND ENABLE PEOPLE TO HAVE MORE ACCESS TO DAYLIGHT AND CLEAR VIEWS WITHOUT ANY COMPROMISE TO PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT, REGARDLESS OF BUILDING TYPE OR LOCATION.

WHAT IS THE COMPANY’S PRODUCT?

WFG INCORPORATES A TRANSPARENT LAYER OF WATER WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES THE GLASS ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CAN SAVE 60-75% OF ASSOCIATED ENERGY COSTS (HEATING AND COOLING) COMPARED TO EXISTING SOLUTIONS. WE ARE NOT GLASS MANUFACTURERS BUT RATHER LICENSE THE USE OF OUR IP TO CONSTRUCTION FIRMS AND GLASS MANUFACTURERS. ALTHOUGH THE GLASS IS NOVEL, STANDARD MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES, FRAMES AND MECHANICAL SYSTEMS ARE USED SO THE BUSINESS IS HIGHLY SCALABLE.

HOW DID THE IDEA FIRST COME ABOUT?

AFTER REALISING THE POTENTIAL OF USING WATER TO REGULATE A BUILDING’S TEMPERATURE, MATYAS HAS BEEN STUDYING AND RESEARCHING THE IDEA OF WATER-FILLED GLASS AT A NUMBER OF UNIVERSITIES AND DEVELOPED THE TECHNOLOGY ACROSS MORE THAN A DECADE. THE IDEA HAS BEEN REFINED AND VALIDATED ACROSS A NUMBER OF PILOT PROJECTS AND REPRESENTS A UNIQUE WAY TO SAVE ENERGY AND CARBON USAGE.

WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND OF THE TEAM?

MATYAS STARTED WORKING ON THE WFG TECHNOLOGY ALONE AFTER COMPLETION OF HIS PHD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO. HE FIRST USED RESEARCH GRANTS IN EU AND JAPAN TO DEVELOP THE FIRST PROTOTYPES OF THE TECHNOLOGY.

DANIEL JOINED THE RESEARCH PROJECTS FIRST AS A TECHNICAL EXPERT. HE SOON BECAME A KEY MEMBER OF THE WFG DEVELOPMENT AND CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO WFG BY WORKING WITH MATYAS ON FINALISING THE CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURING METHODS OF THE TECHNOLOGY.

FAZEL JOINED MATYAS AND DANIEL SOON AFTER WHEN HE HELPED IN DEVELOPING A SIMULATION METHOD FOR WATER-FILLED GLASS SYSTEM. AS AN EXPERT OF ADVANCED FAÇADE SIMULATIONS, MATYAS AND FAZEL WORKED TOGETHER ON A SERIES OF PEER-REVIEWED ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS BEFORE FOUNDING THE COMPANY TOGETHER WITH DANIEL.

PIERO HAS RECENTLY JOINED AS LEAD INVESTOR AND CFO TO HELP DEVELOP THE COMPANY AND PREPARE FOR COMMERCIAL SCALING.

WHAT EXACTLY IS THE PRODUCT/SERVICE YOU PROVIDE AND WHERE IT CAN BE USED?

ALTHOUGH WFG IS A NEW TECHNOLOGY IT USES MANY OF THE SAME COMPONENTS AS TRADITIONAL GLAZING (GLASS AND FRAMES) AND USES MECHANICAL SYSTEMS WHICH ARE ALREADY IN USE (FOR HEAT PUMPS AND UNDERFLOOR HEATING). THIS MEANS THAT WE ARE NOT MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN EXISTING TRIPLE GLAZING SOLUTIONS WHILE ALSO BEING MUCH MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT.

ADDITIONALLY, RETROFITTING BUILDINGS BY IMPROVING (REPLACING) WINDOWS IS DIFFICULT IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. SUCH PROJECTS REQUIRE OUTSIDE ACCESS AS THE WINDOW NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OUT FROM OUTSIDE. THIS NEEDS SCAFFOLDING AND BUILDING PERMITS FOR MANY PROJECTS. IF THERE IS A BIG PROPORTION OF GLASS ON THE FAÇADE, THE BUILDING ALSO HAS TO BE VACATED FOR THE RETROFIT TO TAKE PLACE. THESE ISSUES BRING A LOT OF ADDITIONAL COST TO THE PROJECT THAT DIMINISH THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY FOR SUCH IMPROVEMENTS. WATER-FILLED GLASS EFFECTIVELY MITIGATES ALL OF THESE CONCERNS BY INTRODUCING A WFG RETROFIT SOLUTION THAT IS INSTALLED BEHIND THE EXISTING FAÇADE FROM THE INSIDE.

STANDARD GLASS TECHNOLOGIES CANNOT DO THIS BECAUSE INSTALLATION FROM INSIDE WOULD LEAD ONLY TO MINIMAL ENERGY SAVING IMPACT COMPARED TO WFG (THE REASON BEHIND THIS IS HOW GLASS TECHNOLOGIES WORK: CURRENT GLASS SOLUTIONS SAVE ENERGY THROUGH INSULATION AND REFLECTION. ADDING ANOTHER DOUBLE GLASS TO AN EXISTING ONE WOULD NOT MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THE INSULATION IS ALREADY THERE. WFG SAVES ENERGY THROUGH ABSORPTION, WHICH CURRENT GLASS FACADES DO NOT HAVE). THIS IS BEFORE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE IMPACT OF CARBON TAXES WHICH WILL FURTHER REDUCE THE PAYBACK PERIOD AS TAXES INCREASE (BY 2030 IN NYC WE ESTIMATE THIS COULD BE AS LOW AS 2 YEARS).

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING WFG?

WFG INCORPORATES A TRANSPARENT LAYER OF WATER WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES THE GLASS ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CAN SAVE 60-75% OF ASSOCIATED ENERGY COSTS (HEATING AND COOLING) COMPARED TO EXISTING SOLUTIONS.

AS WELL AS THE ENERGY SAVINGS OUR PLAN HAS WFG HITTING 6MT CO2E SAVED PER YEAR BY 2026 ON THE BACK OF THESE ENERGY SAVINGS.

AS MENTIONED ABOVE, WITH INCREASED ENERGY EFFICIENCY, NOT ONLY WILL BUILDING OWNERS SAVE ENERGY COSTS USING WFG, THEY WILL ALSO SAVE THE GROWING IMPACT OF INCREMENTALLY SEVERE CARBON TAXES. INCREASINGLY THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF A BUILDING IS A MAJOR CONSIDERATION FOR OCCUPANCY AND RENT SO THE USE OF CUTTING-EDGE EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGY CAN BE A MAJOR DIFFERENTIATOR.

WHAT EXACTLY ARE THESE CARBON TAXES?

CARBON TAXES ARE BEING INTRODUCED ON BUILDINGS IN 65 COUNTRIES TO ENCOURAGE A FOCUS ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN NEW BUILDS AND GIVE AN INCENTIVE TO RETROFIT EXISTING INEFFICIENT BUILDINGS. 

ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF THIS IS LOCAL LAW 97 IN NY WHICH IS SETTING CARBON LIMITS FOR ALL BUILDINGS OVER 25,000 SQFT STARTING IN 2024, WITH THOSE LIMITS BECOMING INCREASINGLY STRINGENT UP TO 2030 (SUCH THAT OVER 70% OF TODAY’S ELIGIBLE BUILDINGS WILL BE OVER THE LIMIT). IF BUILDING OWNERS FAIL TO TAKE STEPS TO REDUCE CARBON PRODUCTION, THEY WILL BE LIABLE FOR PUNITIVE FINES. THIS IS SET TO MAKE THE RETROFIT INDUSTRY A SIGNIFICANT FOCUS IN COMING YEARS AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES PAYBACK PERIODS FOR PRODUCTS LIKE WFG.

FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE: HTTPS://WWW.URBANGREENCOUNCIL.ORG/WHAT-WE-DO/DRIVING-INNOVATIVE-POLICY/LL97/

LEGISLATION AROUND THE CARBON EFFICIENCY OF THE BUILT SPACE IS ALSO SCALING IN THE EU AND UK AS WELL AS AROUND THE WORLD WHICH IS AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGIES.

DOES WFG HAVE ANY OTHER BENEFITS APART FROM ENERGY EFFICIENCY?

YES, IT DOES HAVE SEVERAL OTHER ADVANTAGES:

1)  UNLIKE OTHER ENERGY SAVING SOLUTIONS SUCH AS SHADING OR TINTED GLASS, WFG ALLOWS WINDOWS TO BRING IN LOTS OF NATURAL LIGHT (WHICH IS PROVEN TO BENEFICIAL FOR PEOPLE’S COMFORT, HEALTH AND MOOD).

2)  WFG REDUCES THE IMPACT OF NOISE POLLUTION. THE PRINCIPAL OF SOUNDPROOFING IS TO USE SURFACES OF DIFFERENT DENSITIES TO BREAK THE SOUND WAVES. THE TRIPLE GLAZED WFG PANELS ARE PERFECT EXAMPLES OF THAT.

3)  WFG IS AN IDEAL SOLUTION FOR REPLACING EXISTING FACADES OF OFFICE BLOCKS AND MULTIFAMILY UNITS BOTH BECAUSE OF ITS SUPERIOR ENERGY PERFORMANCE AND THE FACT THAT IT CAN BE FITTED FROM THE INSIDE, SOLVING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH ACCESS AND COST OF FACADE DEMOLITION AND SCAFFOLDING.

4)  COMPARED TO ELECTROCHROMIC GLASS THERE IS MUCH LESS EMBEDDED CARBON IN THE PRODUCTION PROCESS.

WHO NEEDS WFG RIGHT NOW?

THERE ARE TWO MAIN SOURCES OF DEMAND ON WHICH WE ARE FOCUSING RIGHT NOW:

·    BUILDERS AND ARCHITECTS LOOKING AT NEW BUILD PROJECTS WITH A FOCUS ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY WHILE KEEPING LIGHT ENVIRONMENTS.

·    BUILDING OWNERS FOCUSED ON RISING ENERGY PRICES AND THE IMMINENT INCREASING TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH INEFFICIENT COMMERCIAL AND MULTI-FAMILY BUILDINGS.

HOW BIG IS THE MARKET? 

THE GLOBAL ENERGY RETROFIT MARKET IS ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND $160BN AND FORECAST TO GROW AT OVER 4% P.A. OVER THE NEXT 8 YEARS. WHILST THE PORTION OF THIS RELATING TO FACADES IS THOUGHT TO BE AROUND 35% OF THIS, IT IS A HUGE AND GROWING MARKET. NY IS ONE OF OUR KEY TARGETS WITH OUR LICENSING PARTNER AND THE URBAN GREEN COUNCIL ESTIMATES AN ENERGY RETROFIT MARKET THERE OF £20BN OVER THE NEXT 8 YEARS ALONE. A RECENT FORTUNE REPORT ESTIMATED THIS MARKET TO GROW AT A CAGR OF 4.2% BETWEEN 2021-2028 BUT THE   SPEED OF LEGISLATIVE CHANGE AND RECENT ENERGY PRICES COULD WELL INCREASE THIS.

IS WFG READY FOR COMMERCIAL USE NOW?

THE DEVELOPMENT AND REFINEMENT OF WFG ACROSS SEVERAL PILOT PROJECTS MEANS THAT WE ARE READY FOR COMMERCIAL APPLICATION NOW.

WHAT TRACTION HAVE YOU HAD SO FAR?

OUR FIRST COMMERCIAL PROJECT INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LARGE SINGLE-FAMILY PROPERTY IN FORT COLLINS, COLORADO. THE PROJECT IS UNDERWAY, AND WE ARE EXPECTING TO SUPPLY WFG PANELS, FRAMES AND MECHANICAL SYSTEMS IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. WE ALSO HAVE A PIPELINE OF INTEREST RANGING FROM OFFICE RETROFITS TO HIGH PROFILE NEW BUILDS WHERE THERE IS A FOCUS ON CARBON EFFICIENCY WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE DESIRE FOR NATURAL LIGHT. THERE ARE NOW SIX PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE (WITH 2 SIGNED LOIS INCLUDING FORT COLLINS) WITH THE POTENTIAL TO EXPAND AND ADD TO THOSE.

NOW OUR GLOBAL PATENT HAS BEEN FILED WE CAN ALSO START TO WORK IN EARNEST WITH OUR US LICENSEE.

ADDITIONALLY, WE WORKED ON TWO NEWBUILD PROJECTS WITH HIGH-PROFILE GLOBAL ARCHITECTURE FIRMS, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY IN THE COMPETITION STAGE AND WILL USE WFG IF THEY GO FORWARD (THE PROJECTS AND CLIENTS ARE CURRENTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND CANNOT BE DISCLOSED).

WHAT PRESS AND SCIENTIFIC RECOGNITION HAS WFG RECEIVED?

WE HAVE RECENTLY BEEN FEATURED IN A NUMBER OF PRESS ARTICLES, THE MOST NOTABLE OF WHICH IS THE VERY HIGH PROFILE DESIGN PUBLICATION DEZEEN (HTTPS://WWW.DEZEEN.COM/2023/01/03/WATER-FILLED-GLASS-SOLAR-POWER-ENERGY-BILLS/), WHICH HAS GENERATED A NUMBER OF INBOUND ENQUIRIES AND REQUESTS TO DISPLAY OUR TECHNOLOGY.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER PUBLICATIONS FEATURING WFG INCLUDING:

HOW DOES WFG ACTUALLY WORK TO BOTH HEAT AND COOL A BUILDING ACROSS SUMMER AND WINTER?

IN SUMMER WFG ABSORBS INCOMING RADIANT HEAT (FOR EXAMPLE SOLAR HEAT) FROM THE OUTSIDE AND PUMPS IT AWAY BEFORE ENTERING THE ROOM. IN WINTER THE WATER BEHIND THE INSULATION CAN ABSORB THE RADIATION ESCAPING THROUGH THE WINDOW AND CIRCULATE IT BACK.

WFG SYSTEM UTILIZES RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (FOR EXAMPLE, HEAT PUMPS) JUST LIKE MANY OTHER SOLUTIONS, BUT FOR THE SAKE OF SIMPLICITY LET'S TAKE COLD WATER SUPPLY AS AN EXAMPLE, WHICH IS AVAILABLE IN EVERY BUILDING AND IS HAS RELATIVELY STABLE TEMPERATURE ALL YEAR. A LARGE VOLUME OF WATER CAN BE STORED EASILY IN A BUFFER TANK AND THIS STABLE THERMAL MASS IS AVAILABLE IN ALL SEASONS WITHOUT ENERGY INVESTMENT. CIRCULATING THIS THERMAL ENERGY SOURCE ON THE WINDOWS ON ANOTHER CIRCUIT OF WATER WITH THE HELP OF A HEAT EXCHANGER SIGNIFICANTLY COMPENSATES TO LOSS OF RADIANT HEAT PASSING THROUGH THE GLASS WHETHER IT IS COMING FROM OUTSIDE OR TRYING TO ESCAPE FROM INDOORS BY THE PRINCIPLE OF ENTROPY. ALSO LOOKING AT IT FROM ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW: IF WE REDUCE THE VOLUME OF COOLING SURFACES ON THE BUILDING ENVELOPE BY TEMPERING THEM, THE THERMAL COMFORT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY GROW, SO THE HEATING DEMAND WILL BE DRASTICALLY REDUCED THAT WAY AS WELL.

WATER IS NOT ONLY A GOOD ABSORBER, BUT IT IS ALSO A VERY EFFICIENT MATERIAL FOR ENERGY TRANSFER. MOVING ENERGY FOR EXAMPLE WITH A WATER PUMP IS MUCH MORE EFFICIENT THAN HEATING OR COOLING THE SAME SPACE, WHICH WFG USES TO ITS ADVANTAGE. TO PUT IT SIMPLY, WFG SAVES ENERGY BY ABSORBING RADIATION PASSING THROUGH THE GLASS DURING SUMMER, WHICH LOWERS COOLING DEMAND. IN WINTER THE HEAT ESCAPING THROUGH GLASSES IS ABSORBED BEFORE IT WOULD LEAVE THE BUILDING, WHICH LEADS TO FURTHER ENERGY SAVINGS. THE ABSORBED ENERGY CAN BE REUSED FOR EXAMPLE FOR HEATING AND HOT WATER, WHICH BECOMES THE THIRD AND FINAL TIER OF THE ENERGY SAVINGS.

 THIS PRACTICALLY MEANS THAT WFG SAVES ENERGY IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN OTHER GLASS OPTIONS. NOT THROUGH INSULATION (U-VALUE) OR REFLECTION (SHGC, SHADING), BUT THROUGH ABSORPTION. SINCE OUR INNOVATION IDEA ORIGINATES IN JAPAN, WE OFTEN REFER TO THIS APPROACH WITH THE PHILOSOPHY OF AIKIDO: OUR GOAL IS NOT TO RESIST OR BLOCK AN OPPONENT BUT TO USE ITS MOMENTUM TO OUR ADVANTAGE. THE SAME HAPPENS WITH WFG, THE MORE RADIATION HAPPENS THE MORE ABSORPTION CAN OCCUR, LEADING TO FURTHER ENERGY SAVINGS. THIS APPROACH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WORKS AGAINST EXISTING ENERGY MITIGATING STRATEGIES. ON THE CONTRARY, THE ABSORPTION-BASED APPROACH OF WFG CAN COMPLEMENT EXISTING SYSTEMS, WHICH IS A GREAT HELP NOT JUST FOR NEW BUILDS BUT ALSO RETROFITS.

FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING THERE IS THE COMPLETE CASE STUDY ON ENERGY CONSUMPTION OF WATER-FILLED GLASS (WFG) HYBRID BUILDING ENVELOPE.

WONT THE WATER LAYER FREEZE IN VERY COLD WEATHER AND CRACK THE GLASS?

THE WATER LAYER IS BEHIND THE INSULATING LAYER, SO TECHNICALLY IT IS INSIDE THE BUILDING. THE TEMPERATURE INDOORS MUST BE WELL BELOW THE FREEZING POINT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME IN ORDER FOR FREEZING TO OCCUR IN CASE THE FACILITY IS OUT OF OPERATION, BUT THIS DOES NOT NORMALLY HAPPEN WITH INHABITED BUILDINGS. WATER-FILLED GLASS (WFG) TECHNOLOGY IS DESIGNED TO USE AND CIRCULATE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES TO PROVIDE BETTER COMFORT THAN A NORMAL WINDOW AND SUPPLY THE BUILDING WITH OPTIMAL THERMAL ENERGY IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COLD CLIMATES. ON TOP OF THAT WE USE SPECIAL ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY WATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY, THAT PREVENTS FREEZING ON SPECIAL CLIMATES. IN CASE OF VIS MAJOR, THE SYSTEM CAN BE DRAINED AND REFILLED ANY TIME

THE SYSTEM SOUNDS COMPLEX – WONT IT BE PRONE TO LEAKING?

THE WATER IN THE PANEL RUNS ON A SPECIAL CLOSED CIRCUIT THAT IS SECURED BY OUR ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY WATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY. WFG USES INSPECTED JOINT SYSTEMS THAT MEET THE HIGHEST INDUSTRIAL STANDARDS AND QUALITY AND ARE ALSO USED FOR SPECIAL DRINKING WATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES. WFG HAS MORE THAN A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE IN WATER TIGHTNESS. THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF OUR TECHNOLOGY AND THAT MAKES US UNIQUE.

BUT WONT IT TAKE A LOT OF EXPENSIVE MAINTENANCE TO KEEP THE SYSTEM WORKING IN GOOD ORDER?

WFG IS A CLOSED SYSTEM. THERE ARE WFG PANELS THAT HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION FOR MORE THAN A DECADE AND NEVER NEEDED ANY MAINTENANCE SO FAR. WATER TREATMENT AT THIS LEVEL IS NOT A CHALLENGE IN THE 21ST CENTURY, IT IS A WELL-ESTABLISHED TECHNOLOGY, AND MANY INDUSTRIES USE IT WITH EXCELLENT RELIABILITY TO MEET HIGHEST EXPECTATIONS.

HOW HAS THE SYSTEM BEEN TESTED?

THE TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN TESTED OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS THROUGH MULTIPLE PANEL PROTOTYPES AND TWO PROTOTYPE BUILDINGS:

STAGE I: PROTOTYPE PANELS IN EUROPE (2010-12)

THE FIRST PROTOTYPES WERE CARRIED OUT THROUGH AN EU-GINOP RESEARCH GRANT AND IN COLLABORATION WITH A MAJOR GLASS FACTORY. THE KEY CHALLENGE HERE WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DEVELOP A MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR THE PANELS THAT CAN BE ADOPTED BY ANY GLASS FACTORY WITHOUT MAJOR INVESTMENT. PHOTOGRAPHS OF THESE PROTOTYPES ARE SHOWN ON OUR WEBSITE AND IN THE VIDEOS WE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE AND YOUTUBE CHANNEL. THESE PROTOTYPES WERE DEVELOPED, PRODUCED AND TESTED BETWEEN 2010-2012.

STAGE II: FIRST PROTOTYPE BUILDING (2013-14)

AFTER THE FIRST PROTOTYPE TESTS, THE FIRST EXPERIMENTAL BUILDING WAS BUILT WITH THE TECHNOLOGY TITLED WATERHOUSE 1.0. THE BUILDING WAS DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN 2013-2014. THE PROJECT INCLUDED TESTING DURING 2014-2015. THIS PROTOTYPE BUILDING WAS TESTED TO PROVE THE VIABILITY OF THE TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING ITS COMPATIBILITY WITH EXISTING MECHANICAL SYSTEMS (HEATING AND COOLING) AND ITS ENERGY EFFICIENCY. THIS DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE WERE DESIGNED IN COMPLIANCE WITH EU BUILDING CODES AND CLIMATE (MILD, TEMPERATE AND COLD CLIMATE). THE PANELS HAVE AN EXTERNAL INSULATION LAYER (ARGON LAYER) TO ASSURE SUFFICIENT U-VALUE.

STAGE III: PROTOTYPES IN ASIA (2013-14)

PARALLEL TO COMPLETION OF WATERHOUSE 1.0, NEW WFG PROTOTYPES WERE DEVELOPED FOR HOT CLIMATES AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH BUILDING CODES OF SOUTHEAST ASIA AND REGIONS OF EASTERN ASIA (JAPAN, TAIWAN) BETWEEN 2013-2014. THESE PROTOTYPE PANELS WERE DEVELOPED WITH SUPPORT OF ASAHI GLASS (AGC).

STAGE IV: PROTOTYPE BUILDING IN ASIA (2014-17)

UTILIZING THE PROTOTYPE PANELS FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT, A NEW PROTOTYPE BUILDING WAS DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED IN TAIWAN. WATERHOUSE 2.0 WAS THEN BUILT IN TAICHUNG, TAIWAN AND WAS BUILT WITHOUT STANDARD SHADING AND INSULATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH LOCAL BUILDING CODES AND CLIMATE. THIS TOGETHER WITH THE GEOMETRY OF THE BUILDING INCREASED THE RADIATION LOAD SIGNIFICANTLY AND RESULTED IN HIGH SOLAR GAIN ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND MINIMAL ON THE NORTH. THE RESULTANT TEMPERATURE DIFFERENTIAL ALLOWED THE BUILDING TO DEMONSTRATE HOW WFG COULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE ENERGY PERFORMANCE USING WATER FLOW FROM HOT AREAS TO COOL AND OUTSIDE. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT OF WFG WAS AT THIS STAGE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WFG CAN SAVE ENERGY AND IMPROVE THERMAL COMFORT WITHOUT SHADING OR COLOURING THE GLASS, WHICH WOULD NORMALLY BE THE STANDARD. THIS GIVES WFG A SIGNIFICANT VALUE COMPARED TO OTHER GLASS, ESPECIALLY FOR ARCHITECTS.

STAGE V: DEMONSTRATOR IN BUDAPEST AND COMPLETION OF R&D

THE FINAL PILOT BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED IN DEANS HOTEL, BUDAPEST AND ENABLED US TO FINALIZE ALL THE SIGNIFICANT DETAILS OF THE FINAL PRODUCT THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY SELLING ON THE MARKET, INCLUDING MECHANICAL SYSTEM, PIPING AND WATER QUALITY ASSURANCE. THIS DEMONSTRATOR WAS BUILT AS A RETROFIT, WHICH IS OUR LATEST PATENT AND DEVELOPMENT: THE WFG PANEL IS INSTALLED BEHIND AN EXISTING GLASS WHILE IT ACHIEVES ENERGY SAVINGS AND IMPROVES THERMAL COMFORT.

HOW DO YOU CALCULATE THE ENERGY SAVED BY WFG?

OUR TEAM DEVELOPED A SPECIFIC ENERGY SIMULATION METHOD THAT ENABLES US TO CALCULATE ENERGY SAVINGS WITH WATER-FILLED GLASS (WFG) IN ANY LOCATION. OUR AIM IS CURRENTLY TO DEVELOP A WEB APPLICATION WHICH WILL SHOW THE SAVINGS TO ANY VISITOR.