patent progress

Houston sustainability startup secures major milestone for energy efficient tool

This innovative window treatment startup announced new global patents. Photo courtesy of INOVUES

A Houston company that retrofits windows with smart glass innovations to reduce energy use is celebrating a handful of patents across North America and China.

INOVUES announced it secured several new patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Patent Office, and the China National Intellectual Property Administration.

“These newly awarded patents reinforce our commitment to innovation and position us as a trusted partner for investors and industry partners,” says Anas Al Kassas, INOVUES founder and CEO, in a news release.

The company now has a total of four patents granted in the United States, Canada, and China, and four more patents pending in the United States, Canada, and the European Union. Additionally, INOVUES has trademark protection granted in the EU, United Kingdom, and China.

INOVUES's unique window treatment — its Insulating Glass Retrofit (IGR) and Secondary Glass Retrofit (SWR) technologies — directly impacts the built environment. The process includes 70 percent fewer materials compared to traditional methods and building owners see a 40 percent reduction in reduction in energy consumption following installation.

Last year, the company raised $2.75 million in venture funding. Kassas said at the time that the funding was slated o be used to scale up the team and identify the best markets to target customers, adding that he was looking for regions with rising energy rates and sizable incentives for companies making energy efficient changes.

"We were able to now implement our technology in over 4 million square feet of building space — from Boston, Seattle, Los Angeles, New York City, Portland, and very soon in Canada," he said in a December episode of the Houston Innovators Podcast.

Anas Al Kassas is the CEO and founder of INOVUES. Photo courtesy

Trending News

A View From HETI

Elizabeth Westcott has been tapped to lead Woodside Energy. Photo courtesy Woodside Energy

Woodside Energy has officially named Elizabeth Westcott as its new managing director and CEO.

Westcott has served as the company's acting CEO since Meg O'Neill stepped down in December 2025. Woodside is headquartered in Australia with its global operations based in Houston.

Before joining Woodside as executive vice president of Australian Operations in 2023, Westcott served as COO at EnergyAustralia. She has also held leadership roles at ExxonMobil and Adriatic LNG.

At Woodside, she has overseen the $12.5 Scarborough Energy Project, which the company says is expected to be one of the lowest-carbon-intensity sources of LNG, as well as other major projects and initiatives.

“My focus as CEO is on sustainable value creation for Woodside shareholders, operational excellence and disciplined execution of our growth projects," Westcott said in a news release. “I look forward to working closely with the Board and Woodside’s strong leadership team to continue building a leading global energy company that delivers long-term value for shareholders, underpinned by a consistent focus on sustainability and high performance.”

Woodside Chair Richard Goyder added that Westcott was the top choice for the role.

“Liz’s proven track record of outstanding strategic leadership and disciplined delivery distinguished her as the Board’s top candidate for this role," Goyder said. “Liz’s extensive industry experience and strategic vision will be invaluable in leading Woodside at this significant moment in its history.”

Earlier this month, Westcott spoke on how sustainability is a priority for Woodside.

"Put simply, sustainable business is good business ... Because strong sustainability performance is not only the right thing to do. It also drives long-term value by helping to de-risk our business, secure future opportunities and support a compelling value proposition for investors," she said in her 2026 sustainability briefing.

Westcott called attention to the company's Beaumont New Ammonia project. The company acquired the Texas-based clean ammonia project in 204 for $2.35 billion. Production of lower‑carbon ammonia was initially expected sometime this year, but Westcott shared that delivery has been pushed back due to construction delays.

Read Westcott's full suitability briefing here.

Trending News