Objective Buildings are a major end-user of European energy, representing 40% of energy consumption and 1,800 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. Improved energy efficiency within buildings is, therefore, a priority objective in enabling Europe to meet its Kyoto Protocol commitments. Whilst a desirable architectural feature enabling enhanced occupier comfort, windows are recognised as a key weak spot in the building envelope, resulting in heat losses during winter months due to inferior insulating properties, and excessive solar heat gain during summer months, resulting in energy-intensive air conditioning. Such window-related losses represent 10% of a building's energy consumption (4% of Europe’s total energy use).Whilst super-insulating window designs are commercially available, more limited progress has been made towards cost-effective solar heat gain control (SHGC) technologies. Existing solutions are primarily based on low-cost tinted films that permanently block a proportion of light entering the room (leading to room darkening and negative energy efficiency during winter months). Whilst dynamic (switchable) films have been developed, such materials demonstrate either inferior properties or are cost prohibitive.Integrating emerging materials science with a cost-efficient polymer-extrusion process, the SOLARGAIN project will develop an innovative low-cost all-polymeric switchable reflective SHGC film. The film will enable dynamic optical properties in response to the changing lighting, heating and cooling needs of the room, and thus improved natural lighting, occupier comfort and enhanced energy efficiency. The SHGC films will be incorporated within:• A highly-insulated sealed-window-unit design targeting > 90% window-related energy saving• A retrofit window-film structure targeting > 90% energy savings associated with room coolingThe window systems will integrate photovoltaic and sensor technologies, thereby enabling self-powering and intelligent activation. Achieving cost competitiveness with existing window systems, the SOLARGAIN technology will also demonstrate significant long-term cost savings through enhanced energy efficiency. SOLARGAIN will generate €40 million business growth within a 3 year period, creating 85 new jobs; and has the potential to benefit > 8,000 SMEs operating in wider market sectors. Fields of science engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors Programme(s) FP7-SME - Specific Programme "Capacities": Research for the benefit of SMEs Topic(s) SME-2011-1 - Research for SMEs Call for proposal FP7-SME-2011 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme BSG-SME - Research for SMEs Coordinator EUROFILMS EXTRUSION LIMITED EU contribution € 451 547,00 Address RIDGE HOUSE DRIVE 6 ST1 5TL STOKE ON TRENT United Kingdom See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Nicholas Andrew Smith (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all WELLS PLASTICS LTD United Kingdom EU contribution € 296 143,00 Address Emerald Way, Stone Business Park ST15 0SR STONE See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Gary Ogden (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data HANITA COATINGS RCA LTD Israel EU contribution € 247 536,00 Address MAIN ROAD 1 22885 Hanita See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Shai Ben-Tovin (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data ALUMINIOS J.P. DEL PINO SL Spain EU contribution € 164 558,00 Address CRTA DE TOLEDO KM 69 45000 LOS NAVALMORALES TOLEDO See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Jesus Pedro Del Pino (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data JOANNEUM RESEARCH FORSCHUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH Austria EU contribution € 9 430,00 Address LEONHARDSTRASSE 59 8010 Graz See on map Region Südösterreich Steiermark Graz Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Volker Ribitsch (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data THE UK MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE LIMITED United Kingdom EU contribution € 8 783,00 Address MIDDLE ASTON HOUSE OX25 5PT OXFORDSHIRE See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Andrew Dean (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data HERMANOS DEL PINO ESPINOSA SL Participation ended Spain EU contribution No data Address CTRA DE TOLEDO 69 45140 TOLEDO See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Jesús Pedro Del Pino Espinosa (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data