Innovative Products
To optimize whole building energy performance and thermal comfort, Wausau recommends an integrated design approach with a review of both common and customized solutions to such issues as:
- Preserving outside views
- Controlling solar heat gain
- Managing visible light transmittance
- Maximizing natural daylighting
Some of the innovative, green products Wausau offers are:
Please see the Performance Data section and downloadable Performance Upgrade Tables (PDF) to learn more about selecting the best product for your project and Climate Zone.
For LEED support information pertaining to Wausau’s innovative products, please visit the Services, Support, Submissions.
Clear Story™ Sun Shades
Exterior Clear Story™ sun shades intercept solar heat gain at the best place –
before it can add to the HVAC system’s load.
Sun shades also can economize natural light
by redirecting it more deeply into occupied spaces.
Wausau offers a variety of pre-engineered, exterior “brise soleil” sun shades. These static, outrigger-supported assemblies typically are anchored to curtainwall or window wall mullions. Wausau also engineers and fabricates self-supporting sun shade structures.
Wausau’s menu of available sun shade types includes:
- Aerofoil louvers
- Catwalk grid gratings
- Trapezoidal “no perch” tubes
- Square, rectangular and oval cross pieces and nosings
- Variously shaped, solid panel shading – both vertical and horizontal
- Transparent, translucent or silk-screened glass sun shades
Clear Story™ Light Shelves
Further maximizing natural light, Clear Story™ interior light shelves at transom height are especially effective at redirecting sunlight deep into occupied spaces. To assess whether your project is a candidate for innovative natural daylighting strategies, download the Wausau Natural Daylighting Checklist (PDF).
Clear Story™ light shelves are manufactured from high recycled content extruded or formed aluminum and attached to mullions.
Renewable Energy
Photovoltaic panels generate renewable, electrical energy directly from sunlight,
and readily integrate into building façade and skylights.
Wausau is among the pioneers in developing building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems in the U.S. Wausau holds U.S. Patent #6,646,196 B2 “Window Structure With Photovoltaic Panel.”
In addition, Wausau’s SuperWall™ has been UL-listed as a BIPV system for several projects including Exelon Pavilions (PDF) in Chicago and Tiger Woods Learning Center (PDF) in Anaheim, Calif.
Dynamic Glazing
Wausau is a development partner with SAGE Electrochromics, Inc.,
an international producer of electronically tintable, electrochromic (EC) glass,
to offer SageGlass® electronically tintable windows.
With a small amount of DC current, Wausau’s windows with SageGlass products darken on-demand to:
- Block glare
- Reduce solar heat gain
- Protect interiors against fading
- Maintain a connection to the view outside
- Increase the benefits of daylighting
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that electronically tintable window systems are capable of providing up to:
- 40% savings on energy bills
- 20% savings on operating costs
- 24% reduction in peak demand
- 25% decrease in the size of HVAC systems
Like Wausau, SAGE is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council. Its products have contributed to projects seeking certification through the LEED® Green Building Rating System™ and have been recognized with several green product awards. Click here to visit SAGE’s Web site for more details on how this dynamic glass contributes to LEED and other green building projects.

