The Heat is On: Tackling Discomfort in Airports
Airports are bustling hubs of activity, but large curtainwalls can turn these spaces into uncomfortable hot zones. As sunlight streams through expansive glass walls, it creates areas of intense heat, leading to uneven temperatures and inefficiencies. Most travelers have experienced stepping into a gate area that's receiving direct sunlight in the summer sun or even during the winter, when lower sun angles can perpetuate throughout the day—it's not the ideal start to a journey.
Take for example, a simulated terminal space with a fully-glazed south façade that is 14’ high. When traditional low-e glass is installed, occupants can experience mean radiant temperature conditions exceeding 90°F (32°C) within 16’ of the glass. Hot or warm conditions even persist up to 33’ from the glass. While a high performance low-e solution will improve conditions farther from the glass, locations within 16’ of glass will still experience the hottest conditions1.
The Gate Experience is Paramount
Thermal discomfort affects everyone in the airport, from passengers waiting at the gate to the staff working tirelessly to ensure smooth operations. For passengers, an uncomfortable gate area can add stress to an already hectic travel experience. For airport staff, fluctuating temperatures can impact productivity and morale. Moreover, maintaining a comfortable temperature in these vast spaces is energy-intensive and costly, impacting the airport's overall efficiency.
The Shortcomings of Traditional Shading Solutions
Mechanical shades and blinds are seldom installed in terminals—and for good reason. Not only do they block views and daylight, but maintenance and cleaning can create major headaches for facilities teams.
Some airports rely on solutions such as louvers or fins to provide solar control. While these solutions can reduce some heat, they are only partial (and static) solutions that can’t provide adequate shading in all conditions. Considerations such as building orientation or seasonal sun angles play a major role in the effectiveness of a solar solution.
The Smart Window Advantage
Enter electrochromic glass—a dynamic, adaptive solution that outperforms traditional shading methods. Unlike static solutions, electrochromic glass is a smart window solution that can adjust its tint in response to the sun's position, ensuring optimal comfort regardless of the building's orientation. This smart technology reduces glare and heat without compromising natural light, creating a more pleasant environment for passengers and staff alike. Plus, it significantly cuts down on energy costs by reducing the need for artificial lighting and excessive air conditioning.
Returning to our simulation of an airport with a large curtainwall. Smart windows can provide comfortable conditions throughout the space, even close to the glass.
Proof in Practice: Brownsville South Padre International Airport
Passenger comfort and gate experience aren’t just buzz words—they’re measurable. In a real world occupant study conducted at Brownsville South Padre International Airport (BRO), travelers and employees reported significantly improved occupant comfort in gate areas when SageGlass was operational. Respondents were nearly three times more likely to be satisfied with their thermal comfort when the glass was on.
By selecting electrochromic glass, airports can elevate passenger comfort, reduce energy consumption and create more sustainable and efficient terminals.
Contact us today to discuss whether dynamic glazing is a fit for your next airport project.
1 This thermal comfort analysis was conducted by the Saint-Gobain Building Science team using a 3rd party consultancy. The simulation was done with Ladybug and Honeybee through an EnergyPlus simulation engine. For this analysis, the glazing SHGCs analyzed were as follows: low-e = 0.34; high-performance low-e = 0.27; Smart Window’s fully tinted state = 0.09. All products were assumed to be double glazed IGUs and the U-values were held constant.