We've had our SageGlass windows for about two years now, and honestly, the energy savings have been noticeable but not exactly massive. I mean, our AC definitely runs less often in the summer since the windows keep out a good chunk of heat. But in winter, it's harder to tell—maybe because we still rely a lot on heating anyway.
"My only gripe is that occasionally the sensors seem overly sensitive to passing clouds—sometimes they'll shift tint unnecessarily..."
Yeah, this happens to us too. Drives me nuts when I'm on a video call and suddenly the room lighting changes. I've actually started using manual overrides more often just to avoid that distraction.
One thing I'm curious about though: has anyone had these smart windows long enough to notice if they require much maintenance or lose effectiveness over time? We're first-time homeowners, so I'm always skeptical about how long these techy upgrades actually hold up...
We've had ours about four years now, and honestly, maintenance has been minimal—just occasional cleaning like regular windows. Haven't noticed any drop in performance yet, but I'm keeping an eye out... tech longevity always makes me cautious too.
"tech longevity always makes me cautious too."
Yeah, totally get that caution. Installed some SageGlass for a client about six years back—still going strong, but we did have one minor hiccup with the tinting controls early on. Easy fix, but makes me wonder how common those control issues might be long-term... Anyone else seen similar quirks?
"Easy fix, but makes me wonder how common those control issues might be long-term..."
Had a similar issue with View windows on a job a while back—minor glitch in the automation settings. Honestly, though, once sorted it hasn't given us trouble since. Seems pretty reliable overall.
Had a chance to mess around with SageGlass at a buddy's place, and honestly, it felt pretty solid—no weird automation hiccups at all. Maybe View's sorted now, but if reliability's your big thing, SageGlass might be worth a look too...
I messed around with View windows at an open house a while back, and I gotta say, they were pretty neat too. But one thing that bugged me was the delay—like, when clouds rolled in, it took a solid minute or two for them to adjust. Not a dealbreaker maybe, but definitely noticeable. Curious if anyone else had this happen or if they've improved that lately...
I checked out SageGlass at a friend's office building last summer and noticed something similar. The delay wasn't as long as you're describing with View, but it definitely wasn't instant either—maybe 30 seconds or so? Honestly, after a while, I kinda forgot about it because the transitions were pretty subtle. It was more like noticing the room gradually getting brighter or darker rather than a sudden shift.
My buddy mentioned that SageGlass had some software updates recently that improved responsiveness. Not sure if View has done something similar lately, but it might be worth checking if they've released any firmware updates or newer models since your open house experience. Either way, from what I've seen, both brands seem pretty solid overall—just depends on how much that slight delay bothers you day-to-day.
I actually got to mess around with View windows at a hotel I stayed at last year. Pretty cool tech, but yeah, the delay was noticeable—felt like waiting for my microwave popcorn to finish, lol. It wasn't terrible though, just enough to make me wonder if I'd pressed the button right or not.
Honestly, after a couple days, I stopped noticing it altogether. Like you said about SageGlass, the transitions were subtle enough that it didn't really bug me after the initial novelty wore off. I haven't tried SageGlass personally yet, but if they've improved their software recently, that's definitely a plus. View might've done something similar since then too—tech moves fast these days.
Either way, smart windows seem like one of those things you obsess over at first and then completely forget about once they're installed... kinda like heated floors or automatic blinds. Nice to have, but probably not life-changing.
I installed SageGlass for a client about six months ago, and honestly, your microwave popcorn analogy is spot on, lol. At first, we were all standing around staring at the windows like they were gonna put on a show or something. But after a couple of days, the novelty wore off and we barely noticed the transitions anymore.
From what I've seen, both View and SageGlass have gotten better recently—software updates have made the delays shorter and smoother. Haven't personally tried the latest View stuff yet, but I hear good things from others in the trade. Either way, you're right—it's one of those upgrades you kinda forget about after a while... until you visit someone else's place without it and suddenly remember how nice it was to have.
I'd say if you're already considering smart windows, you're probably gonna be happy whichever brand you pick. Both are solid choices, just depends on what's available locally or fits your budget best.
"Either way, you're right—it's one of those upgrades you kinda forget about after a while... until you visit someone else's place without it and suddenly remember how nice it was to have."
This is exactly how I felt after installing smart thermostats. At first, I was constantly checking the app and tweaking settings, but now it's just quietly doing its thing in the background. Only notice it when I'm somewhere else fiddling with manual controls again.
I'm still a bit skeptical about smart windows though—mostly because of long-term reliability. Has anyone had experience with how these systems hold up after a few years? I'm curious if the software updates keep coming regularly or if manufacturers tend to drop support once newer models roll out. Wouldn't want to end up stuck with glitchy windows down the line...