Every year tells a story, and the 2025 blog analytics made one thing clear: our readers are hungry for the details that make buildings truly high-performance. Breakthrough window systems, smart European design, and airtightness done right topped the list of most-read posts.
It’s exciting to see so much curiosity and momentum around the building science topics that move the needle.
1. Why smartwin™ is Revolutionizing the Window Industry
This article explored what makes smartwin™ a winner and why it deserves serious consideration for your next building or renovation project.
The performance advantages of smartwin™ products begin with their innovative design and construction:
- Superior thermal efficiency
- Minimal air infiltration
- Enhanced sound attenuation
Smartwin™ is a complete window and door solution that offers a wide range of high-performance fenestration options. Their attention to detail and craftsmanship set them apart from conventional windows.
2. The Devil is in the Details of Air Tightness: Critical Details for High-Performance Building
Air tightness is the foundation of high-performance building, and windows and doors represent one of the most vulnerable points in any building envelope. Achieving true air tightness requires attention to critical details. This article focused on the products and techniques that AE Building System knows will achieve air tightness.
Mounting approach (“innie” vs. “outie”), products, and installation attention to detail all play a critical part in maintaining a solid air tight weather barrier.
The most successful installations follow manufacturer specifications precisely while adapting to project-specific conditions. This requires understanding both the science behind air tight construction, proper product selection and attention to the practical realities of field installation. Check out the full article for more tips and best practices, as well as our recommended products.
3. Thin is In: The Manufacturing Line That’s Changing Windows Today
Our friends at Alpen reached a historic milestone by bringing North America’s first automated ThinGlass IGU (insulated glass unit) manufacturing line into full operation.
For five years, Alpen collaborated with the DOE’s national lab system and the General Services Administration (GSA) to pioneer and rigorously test ultra-thin-glass technology as a lightweight insulator in windows.
The new automated ThinGlass IGU line represents state-of-the-art manufacturing technology specifically designed to produce Alpen’s innovative thin-glass units with unprecedented efficiency and quality.
CEO Andrew Zech articulates the company’s vision clearly: “Alpen’s goal is to scale the advanced window market by manufacturing affordable, ultra-efficient windows and glass right here in the United States.” This mission directly addresses a critical high cost barrier that has historically prevented widespread adoption of advanced window technology.
Beyond manufacturing efficiency, Alpen’s expansion is generating hundreds of new jobs in American communities and addressing the high-cost barrier to high-efficient window adoption. Read more about how smartwin™ is serving as a catalyst for elevating building performance standards across the entire sector.
We can’t wait to see where your curiosity takes us in 2025. If you want to stay ahead on Passive House strategies, emerging products, and building science insights, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.
Wishing all our clients, colleagues, partners, and friends a bright start to the new year!
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