SAGE Electrochromics
A Saint-Gobain-owned developer and manufacturer of electronically tintable electrochromic glass for buildings.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
SAGE Electrochromics, Inc. is a United States-based developer and manufacturer of electrochromic, or electronically tintable, architectural glass. Its principal technology is marketed as SageGlass, a form of dynamic glazing that can be electrically darkened or cleared to manage sunlight, glare, solar heat gain, and daylight in buildings. The company’s products are designed for windows, skylights, curtain walls, and other glazed building systems, with the aim of improving occupant comfort and reducing the energy demands associated with heating, cooling, lighting, and conventional solar-control devices. The business began in 1989 under the name Sun Active Glass Electrochromics, Inc. It was founded by John Van Dine and initially operated from a laboratory in Valley Cottage, New York. In 1992, the company moved its research activity to Rutgers University’s Department of Ceramic Science and Engineering, where it collaborated with Rutgers scientists. The company adopted the name SAGE Electrochromics, Inc. in 1994. It relocated to Faribault, Minnesota, in 1998 and spent the following years refining its production process and testing early insulating-glass-unit versions of its technology. SAGE commercialized its first-generation SageGlass product in 2005 after establishing a headquarters and manufacturing facility in Faribault. The company subsequently pursued additional financing and public-sector support to expand manufacturing capacity and lower the cost of electrochromic glass. In 2010, it announced plans connected with a proposed large-scale Faribault manufacturing facility and introduced a product combining electrochromic functionality with low-U-factor triple-pane construction. SAGE later withdrew from the relevant government funding program, although the period helped establish the company as a participant in the emerging energy-efficiency and advanced-materials manufacturing sectors. Saint-Gobain became a strategic investor in SAGE in November 2010, acquiring a 50 percent interest and committing additional capital while the two companies planned broader collaboration in research, production, and commercialization. Saint-Gobain completed the acquisition of the remaining shares in May 2012, making SAGE a wholly owned subsidiary. The company has since operated within Saint-Gobain’s building-materials portfolio, with SageGlass positioned as a specialized dynamic-glazing offering. SageGlass uses a solid-state electrochromic coating built from several extremely thin ceramic layers. A low-voltage direct-current electrical signal causes lithium ions and associated electrons to move between layers, changing the glass from a clearer state to progressively darker states. Reversing the electrical polarity returns the ions and electrons and clears the glazing. This allows building-control systems to adjust the glass in response to sunlight, building conditions, or occupant preferences while preserving an exterior view. The technology is intended to reduce direct solar heat and glare, limit fading of interior furnishings, and reduce reliance on blinds, shades, and awnings. Research associated with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy indicated that dynamic glazing could potentially reduce the required size of heating and air-conditioning equipment in some buildings by as much as 25 percent, although actual results depend on building design, climate, controls, and operating conditions. SAGE’s business scope therefore combines advanced glass coatings, insulating glass units, building-envelope engineering, and project-specific architectural applications. Its principal identity remains that of a specialized smart-glass company operating under Saint-Gobain rather than an independent publicly listed corporation.
History
SAGE Electrochromics was founded in 1989 by John Van Dine as Sun Active Glass Electrochromics, Inc. The early company operated from a laboratory in Valley Cottage, New York, where it worked on electronically controlled architectural glass. In 1992, its research program moved to Rutgers University’s Department of Ceramic Science and Engineering. The move enabled collaboration with Rutgers scientists and supported the development of the electrochromic coating and manufacturing methods that later underpinned SageGlass. The business changed its name to SAGE Electrochromics, Inc. in 1994. In 1998, it relocated to Faribault, Minnesota. Over the next several years, SAGE concentrated on production refinement, testing, and the development of insulating glass units suitable for commercial building applications. Early samples were evaluated in work involving the U.S. Department of Energy, glass fabricators, and original-equipment manufacturers in the skylight sector. SAGE opened a new headquarters and manufacturing facility in Faribault in 2005 and commercially launched its first-generation SageGlass product. The product used electrical control to vary the amount of sunlight and solar heat passing through architectural glazing. This positioned SAGE within the developing smart-window market, where manufacturers sought alternatives to fixed tinting, blinds, shades, and external solar-control systems. The company raised private capital as it worked toward higher-volume manufacturing. In 2007, it received a reported $16 million Series B investment from Good Energies, Applied Ventures, LLC, and Bekaert. A further reported $20 million round from those investors followed in 2009. During this period, SAGE also pursued public support for a new manufacturing facility intended to expand production and reduce unit costs. In March 2010, the company was associated with a proposed $72 million Department of Energy loan guarantee and a previously awarded $31 million Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit. The proposed support was intended to help establish expanded production capacity in Faribault and promote energy-efficient building technologies and domestic manufacturing employment. SAGE ultimately withdrew from the government funding program. Around the same time, it announced an electrochromic product incorporating low-U-factor triple-pane window construction, extending the technology toward higher-performance building envelopes. Saint-Gobain entered the business in November 2010 by acquiring a 50 percent interest in SAGE. The French glass and building-materials group and SAGE planned to collaborate on research, manufacturing, and market development, including a larger electrochromic-glass plant in Faribault. The relationship gave SAGE access to the resources and distribution capabilities of a major international building-materials company while allowing Saint-Gobain to strengthen its position in dynamic glazing. In May 2012, Saint-Gobain announced that it had purchased the remaining interest in SAGE. SAGE thereby became a wholly owned Saint-Gobain subsidiary. In the same year, SAGE initiated patent infringement litigation against View, another smart-glass company; View later filed a countersuit. The litigation is part of the competitive history of the electrochromic-glass sector, but the available reference material does not establish a final outcome. SageGlass technology consists of a multilayer ceramic electrochromic coating integrated into architectural glazing. A low-voltage direct-current signal moves lithium ions and associated electrons between functional layers, darkening or clearing the glass. When darkened, the glass absorbs more sunlight and solar heat, which can reduce glare and solar gain while retaining a view through the window. Potential building benefits include lower cooling loads, reduced fading of interior materials, and less dependence on mechanical shades or awnings. Research cited in connection with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory suggested that dynamic glazing could potentially allow reductions of up to 25 percent in the size of heating and cooling equipment in some building designs. Actual performance depends on climate, orientation, controls, glazing configuration, and building operation. SAGE remains identified with SageGlass and operates as part of Saint-Gobain’s broader building-products activities. Its core specialization is electronically controlled architectural glazing for windows, skylights, curtain walls, and related building-envelope applications.
- 2012
Saint-Gobain takes full ownership
[1]Saint-Gobain acquired the remaining shares, making SAGE Electrochromics a wholly owned subsidiary.
- 2010
Saint-Gobain acquires a minority stake
[1]Saint-Gobain acquired 50 percent of SAGE and began a strategic collaboration involving research, manufacturing, and commercialization.
- 2009
Additional financing
[1]The company raised a further reported $20 million from the same investor group.
- 2007
Series B financing
[1]SAGE received a reported $16 million Series B financing round from Good Energies, Applied Ventures, and Bekaert.
- 2005
First-generation SageGlass reaches the market
[1]SAGE opened a new headquarters and manufacturing facility in Faribault and commercially launched its first-generation SageGlass product.
- 1998
Relocation to Faribault, Minnesota
[1]SAGE moved to Faribault, where it refined production and testing for commercial electrochromic insulating glass units.
- 1994
Company adopts the SAGE Electrochromics name
[1]Sun Active Glass Electrochromics changed its corporate name to SAGE Electrochromics, Inc.
- 1992
Research collaboration begins at Rutgers
[1]The company moved its research activity to Rutgers University’s Department of Ceramic Science and Engineering for collaboration with university scientists.
- 1989
Company founded as Sun Active Glass Electrochromics
[1]John Van Dine founded the company in Valley Cottage, New York, to develop electronically controlled glass technology.
Products and positioning
A specialized premium supplier of dynamic architectural glazing focused on daylight control, occupant comfort, and building energy efficiency.
Electrochromic architectural glazing · 2005
SageGlass
SageGlass is SAGE’s electronically tintable architectural glass platform. A low-voltage electrical signal changes the glass between clearer and darker states by moving lithium ions and associated electrons through a multilayer ceramic coating. The system is intended for windows, skylights, curtain walls, and insulating glass units. By managing daylight, glare, and solar heat gain while preserving an outdoor view, it can support occupant comfort and building-energy objectives. It may also reduce fading of interior materials and the need for blinds, shades, or awnings.
High-performance insulating glass · 2010
Electrochromic triple-pane glazing
This product configuration combines electrochromic tint control with low-U-factor triple-pane window construction. The combination was intended to improve the thermal performance of dynamic glazing and make it more suitable for high-performance commercial building envelopes. It represents SAGE’s effort to integrate its switching technology with established insulating-glass configurations rather than treat electrochromic control as a standalone coating feature.
Brand decisions
2012
Saint-Gobain completes the acquisition of SAGEM&ABackground
After acquiring a 50 percent interest in 2010, Saint-Gobain moved to consolidate ownership of the electrochromic-glass business.
Action taken
Saint-Gobain acquired the remaining interest in SAGE Electrochromics.
Aftermath
SAGE became a wholly owned Saint-Gobain subsidiary and continued as a specialized dynamic-glass business within the group.
2012
Patent infringement litigation against ViewOtherBackground
SAGE and View operated in the developing market for electronically tintable architectural glass.
Action taken
SAGE filed a patent infringement suit against View.
Aftermath
View filed a countersuit several months later. The supplied reference material does not establish the final disposition.
- View — View countersued SAGE several months after the initial action.
2010
Withdrawal from the government funding programStrategyBackground
SAGE had been associated with a proposed Department of Energy loan guarantee and an advanced-energy manufacturing tax credit intended to support expanded Faribault production.
Action taken
The company ultimately decided to withdraw from the government funding program.
Aftermath
The available reference material does not specify the detailed financial or operational consequences of the withdrawal.
2010
Saint-Gobain takes a 50 percent stakeM&ABackground
SAGE was seeking to expand production and commercialize electrochromic glazing at larger scale.
Action taken
Saint-Gobain acquired half of SAGE and entered a collaboration covering technology, research, and plans for a large-scale Faribault plant.
Aftermath
SAGE gained a strategic relationship with a major international glass and building-materials group before becoming fully owned by Saint-Gobain two years later.
Saint-Gobain investment associated with the 50 percent acquisition. $80 million reported investment (2010)
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