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Technology Comparison
Electrochromic Glass vs. PDLC
Understanding active glass technologies.
Electrochromic glass slowly tints to block solar heat and glare, taking minutes to transition. PDLC film instantly switches from clear to frosted in milliseconds, providing immediate privacy on demand.
| Feature | PDLC Smart Film | Electrochromic Glass |
|---|---|---|
| Transition Speed | Instant (< 0.1s) | Slow (5-15 minutes) |
| Privacy | Absolute (Frosted) | Partial (Tinted) |
| Retrofit Capability | Yes (Applied to existing glass) | No (Requires new glass) |
| Primary Benefit | On-demand privacy | Solar heat reduction |
What each option costs in Miami
Electrochromic glass (the type used on office towers and airport facades) is sold as a new insulated glass unit with low-voltage control wiring. Project pricing is commonly quoted at $50 to $150 per square foot for the glass, plus full window replacement and a control system, and it is almost always specified during new construction or a re-glazing. PDLC smart film goes onto the glass you already own at $55 to $90 per square foot installed, including the transformer and a wall switch or remote, and a typical residential job is done in a day.
Which one should you choose?
Choose electrochromic glass if you are building or re-glazing a facade and the goal is to reduce solar heat and glare across the whole day: it tints gradually over several minutes and always stays transparent. Choose PDLC film if you need privacy in under a second on glass you are keeping, inside or out. Electrochromic glass never goes opaque and takes minutes to change state, which makes it useless for a bathroom, a bedroom wall or a meeting room.
Frequently asked questions
It is sold for residential projects, but only as replacement glazing ordered through an architect or glazier, with lead times of weeks and a control system to install. Most Miami homeowners who ask about it actually want one of two things: privacy, which is PDLC film, or glare and heat control, which a solar-control film handles on existing glass for a fraction of the cost.
Both are low. Electrochromic glass draws a small current while it is changing state and close to nothing while holding. PDLC film draws about 0.3 to 0.5 watts per square foot while clear and nothing while frosted; on a 20 square foot door left clear eight hours a day that is well under a dollar a month at Florida electricity rates.
Yes. They solve different problems, so they can stack: electrochromic or a solar-control film on the exterior side for heat, PDLC film on the interior surface for privacy. In practice we pair smart film with solar-control film for the same result at far lower cost.
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