Commercial, Energy Efficiency  -  March 23, 2021

O'Hare installs smart windows to improve energy efficiency

O’Hare International Airport in Chicago will soon be installing smart windows in its Terminal 5 as part of a $8.5 billion airport modernization and efficiency overhaul project.

The smart windows will be provided to the O’Hare 21 project by View, a smart glass maker. The windows use artificial intelligence to optimize the amount of natural light that gets into the terminal, in order to minimize heat and glare and reduce the need for energy consumption from cooling technologies. 

The project as a whole includes the 350,000-square-foot expansion of the terminal to increase gate capacity by 25%, in addition to a new Delta Sky Club lounge that features View’s Smart Windows. The smart windows have been found to keep indoor environments 15 degrees cooler and increase efficiency 33% than traditional windows.

“As more people return to the skies, transforming airports from curb to gate to be comfortable, healthy, and efficient will be key to instilling confidence in travelers,” Jamie L. Rhee, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation, said in a statement. “Incorporating View’s state-of-the-art, smart windows in Terminal 5 will help us provide an exceptional passenger experience while also making the airport more efficient and reducing our energy usage.”

These smart windows have also previously been installed in Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport (DFW), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Memphis International Airport (MEM), Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Phoenix Sky-Harbor International Airport (PHX), and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).