Hey everyone, if you’ve landed here, you probably got curious after seeing our By Material products and wondering one specific thing: do we use electrochromic materials in what we make? I get this question all the time—last week I had a coffee with a regular client who’s into smart home tech, and he grilled me for 20 minutes on this exact topic, even showing me a Reddit thread where people were debating if our window films had that color-changing cool stuff. Let’s cut to the chase: yeah, we do—but not the way most people think electrochromic works, and that’s what I wanna break down today, especially since I’m the one on the supply side who gets to test every new material that comes our way. By Material
First, let’s keep this real—no stuffy textbook jargon. Electrochromic materials, at their core, are the ones that change color or tint when you run a tiny electric current through ’em. You’ve seen those smart car mirrors that dim automatically, or office windows that go from clear to tinted with a tap on your phone? That’s electrochromics. For years, the hype around this tech has been huge—everyone wants windows that block glare without blinds, or sunglasses that adjust to sunlight in 2 seconds. But here’s the catch: most electrochromic products on the market right now suck at one big thing—durability. Like, if you have a window that changes tint every day, how long until the material wears out? Most warranties are only 5-7 years, which is garbage for a $5,000 smart home window installation.
That’s where By Material comes in. I’ve been working with the team behind these products for 4 years, sourcing and testing every raw material that goes into their goods, and let me tell you—they didn’t just pick electrochromics because it’s trendy. They picked it because it solves a problem no other material could, but they tweaked it so much it’s barely the electrochromic you’d read about in a 2018 energy journal. Wait, let me clarify: the active layer is still a custom electrochromic film, but they engineered it to last way longer. Most electrochromic films use a tungsten oxide base, right? The kind that turns blue when charged. Our supply chain for that? We worked with a lab in Germany to adjust the crystal structure so it doesn’t degrade even after 100,000 color cycles. That’s a big deal—most commercial ones start fading after 10,000 cycles.
But here’s the part that surprises a lot of people: not all By Material products have electrochromic tech. Let’s break down their line-up so it makes sense. First, their big hit: smart residential window inserts. Those 100% have electrochromic layers. I tested a prototype last year in my own kitchen (I live in a house with west-facing windows that get brutal evening sun) and holy cow—you tap the app, and in 12 seconds it goes from bright white to a soft gray tint. No blinds, no cords, just a thin film between two panes of glass. I’ve had it for 18 months, and there’s zero fading. The guys at By Material told me their long-term tests are at 20,000 cycles and counting, no wear. That’s because we source the electrode material from a factory in Japan that makes the same stuff for satellite parts—super durable, not the flimsy plastic most electrochromic films use.
Then there’s their product line for commercial offices, wait—those don’t use electrochromics. They use thermochromic material? No, wait, no—they use our custom low-e glass with a different smart coating. A lot of people mix these up, and I get it. The office line’s whole thing is energy efficiency, not dynamic tinting. That’s why when someone asks “do all By Material products use electrochromic?” I have to say no, which often leads to more questions. Let’s be transparent here: we only use electrochromics where it actually adds value. If you’re a restaurant owner who wants windows that adjust for sunset lighting and reduce AC use, electrochromic is perfect. If you’re a hospital that just needs windows that block UV, our other smart glass is cheaper and works better.
Wait, let’s talk about a common misconception I hear all the time: people think electrochromic is just for tinting. But By Material uses it for more than that. Their latest prototype is a smart glass for museum exhibits that adjusts tint based on UV levels to protect old paintings. I was at a demo last month, and it could go from clear to dark enough to block 99% of UV in 8 seconds. That’s only possible with electrochromic—no other smart material can change that fast and that evenly. The unique part here? We supply the ion conductor layer, which is the part that lets the electricity move through the film without breaking down. Most suppliers use liquid ion conductors, which leak over time. We use a solid polymer ion conductor, which is way more stable. That’s our whole niche as a supplier—making the parts that make electrochromic tech actually usable for real products, not just lab demos.
I should also address the downside, because I don’t wanna sugarcoat this. Electrochromic materials aren’t cheap. That’s why By Material’s smart window inserts are a premium product, not a budget fix. A lot of our clients ask why they can’t just get a cheap electrochromic film from Amazon for half the price. The answer? It’ll stop working in 2 years, and it’ll have that weird blue tint that some people hate. Our supply chain tests every batch we get—we measure tint uniformity, cycle life, even how much power it uses. The smart window uses less than a AA battery’s worth of power a year, which is wild. Most people think it needs to be plugged in, but no—there’s a tiny solar strip on the frame that powers it. That’s another By Material tweak, partnering with solar cell suppliers to make the electrochromic tech energy-neutral.
Wait, let’s get personal for a second. I started in this industry 12 years ago, working as a materials tester for a window company that used cheap, flawed electrochromic films. We had so many warranty claims—people calling because their windows were permanently tinted, or they’d fade to a yellow color. That’s why when By Material approached me 4 years ago saying they wanted to redo electrochromic materials from scratch, I was in. I knew we could fix the durability problem if we sourced the right raw materials and engineered the layers correctly. That’s why I’m so passionate about this—this isn’t just another tech trend. This is electrochromic materials finally getting to live up to the hype, instead of being a gimmick for rich people.
Let’s also talk about some of the recent feedback we’ve gotten. Last quarter, we sent a test batch of electrochromic film to a university lab for independent testing. They found that our version had 30% higher tint uniformity than any commercial electrochromic film on the market, and a cycle life rating that’s 5x higher. That’s not bragging—that’s why By Material can stand behind their products for a 10-year warranty. When they say “we use the best electrochromic materials available,” they mean it, because we’re the ones making the raw materials that make that possible.
A lot of people also ask if electrochromic is better than other smart materials, like photochromic (the kind that darkens in sunlight, like Transition lenses). Photochromic is great for sunglasses, but it’s slow to adjust—usually 2-3 minutes, and it can’t be controlled remotely. Electrochromic is instant, app-controlled, and you can set it to adjust based on time of day or sunlight levels automatically. That’s why By Material’s smart windows use electrochromics, not photochromics. The only downside? Photochromic is cheaper, but it’s not as versatile.
Wait, let’s make sure I’m not missing anything. If you’re a builder, a designer, or even a homeowner researching By Material products, and you’re wondering if electrochromic is right for your project, here’s my quick breakdown: if you want dynamic tinting, energy savings, no cords or blinds, and long-term durability, yes. If you want a cheap window replacement that just blocks heat, no. And to circle back to the original question that got me here: yes, many of their products do use electrochromic materials, but not all, and the electrochromic tech they use is way better than what you’ve seen before.
As a supplier, my job isn’t just to send raw materials—it’s to help clients understand what’s actually going into the products, and if electrochromic is the right fit. I get so many calls from people who saw a By Material ad and assumed all their stuff uses this fancy tint tech, only to be surprised when they ask for a non-electrochromic option. That’s why I wanted to write this—clear, no-BS info, from someone who actually sources and tests these materials every day.
If you’re a designer looking for a durable electrochromic supply, a builder wanting to spec By Material products, or even someone just curious about the tech, hit me up to chat about procurement. We work with small contractors and big commercial clients alike, and we’re happy to send sample materials or answer more specific questions about our electrochromic formulations or supply chain.
At the end of the day, electrochromic materials have been talked about for decades, but only now are we getting them right. By Material is one of the few companies actually doing the engineering to make this tech useful for everyday people, and as their supplier, I’m stoked to be part of that. No more flimsy films, no more short warranties, no more gimmick tech—just solid, effective electrochromic materials that solve real problems.
By Material REFERENCES
- C. G. Granqvist, “Electrochromic Materials and Devices: Status and Applications,” Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, vol. 91, no. 17, pp. 1529–1540, 2007.
- J. Zhang et al., “Durable Solid Polymer Electrolytes for Electrochromic Devices,” Advanced Functional Materials, vol. 28, no. 12, 2018.
- S. E. Lee et al., “Energy-Efficient Electrochromic Windows Integrated with Thin-Film Solar Cells,” Energy and Buildings, vol. 196, pp. 1–8, 2019.
- By Material, “Product Technical Overview: Smart Residential Window Inserts,” Internal Technical Document, 2022.
- International Energy Agency, “Smart Windows for Buildings: Energy Savings Potential,” IEA Energy Conservation in Buildings and Communities Programme, 2021.
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