If you’ve walked into a commercial building in the last 12 months, the chances are you’ve come across electric windows. These might seem like regular windows at first glance, but it’s not until they open that you realise you’re living in a dystopian future.
Okay, maybe they’re not dystopian, and they aren’t exactly futuristic either. But electric window openers are a definite upgrade on traditional windows, to the point where nearly every modern commercial building has installed – or is thinking about installing – them.
The technology behind them is actually pretty simple, too. They’re similar to any manual window-winding mechanism, only with a few techy upgrades:
The Science Behind Electric Window Openers
Okay, let’s get our science hats on. Electric window openers work through a remotely activated motor which winds the window up and down. Typically, this mechanism is achieved by converting rotational motion into linear.
The circular pinion of the window engages the rack – which is essentially a horizontal bar fitted with teeth – and causes it to move in relation to it.
The process relies on a single component known as the actuator, which facilitates the movement of the window. As mentioned before, this is typically known as the “linear actuator”, but other electric window types include chain actuators and folding arm actuators.
Why Are Electric Windows Good?
Sounds pretty simple, right? You click a button, and the window opens. You click another button, and the window closes. What’s so great about that? Well, if you own a commercial building, something as simple as this can be a great investment to both save costs and increase property safety. First off, you don’t actually need to click a button.
Because window openers can be synced to smart tech, you can have windows that open and close depending on the temperature. This means that, when it’s cold, the windows around the building can automatically close, and vice versa. This could drastically help with energy bills, especially when it comes to heating the building or turning on air conditioning.
Electric windows are also very secure. At the end of a long day, it can be easy to forget to check all of the windows are closed before leaving the building.
This opens up the possibility of intruders gaining access through a window that has been left open – which could lead to damage and stolen goods, as well as an increased heating bill as someone left the window open all night! With an automated and remote system, making sure the building is secure has become a lot easier.
They’re also safer, too. Earlier this year it was reported that 37% of all workplace injuries were caused by falls. If you have any skylights that need to be opened – either to control the humidity or to reduce dampness in the building – then this will need to be done manually, and probably with a ladder to reach that height.
An electric window opener relieves the possibility of a fall, dramatically increasing the safety of your building and the people working in it. So what are you waiting for? You know how they work, you know why they work. Now it’s up to you to jump on board!