The dictionary may define “innovation” as “a new method, idea, product, etc.,” but in business, the term goes far beyond those terms. To be truly innovative, a new product or service must meet a real need and do so in a unique way.
Fortunately, in real estate, there’s no shortage of companies focused on producing products, platforms and systems that will help consumers track their building projects, homeowners save energy, investors pay for buildings and more.
Below are some of the new innovations that have caught our eye in recent months.
Yes Solar Customer Portal for Solar Management
Solar panel installer and maintenance company Yes Solar has introduced Yes Solar Portal, a customer service portal designed to enhance the customer experience and streamline project management. The platform gives customers access and insight throughout a home or building owner’s energy transformation from initial contract signing to installation. The portal offers a single, convenient location for all project-related information, accessible on a desktop and via a mobile app.
“With energy costs continuing to rise, homeowners and businesses need greater control over their solar investment,” said Kathy Miller, CEO of Yes Solar Solutions. “The Yes Solar Portal is a game-changer, providing customers with real-time insights into their system’s performance, energy savings and environmental impact — all through an intuitive, user-friendly interface. This platform not only enhances transparency but also empowers customers to optimize their energy usage while allowing our team to proactively address maintenance needs.”
Customers can track their project’s progress in real-time and access vital documents. Once the installation is complete, the portal becomes a central hub for submitting service requests, e-shopping for additional products, posting reviews and even referring new customers.
The portal moves the customer through each phase of construction with a description of what to expect. Once installed, it provides every customer a monthly report detailing energy generation (which includes positive environmental impact), identifies systems requiring attention and allows for optimal scheduling of service calls using integrated map features. Annual maintenance plans can be integrated with the portal for added value.
Open House Group Launches Real Estate Sales via Cryptocurrency
How long will the idea take to become common across the Pacific Ocean? Open House Group Co. Ltd.,
which focuses on real estate development and sales in Japan, has begun accepting cryptocurrency for payment, enhancing convenience for global customers looking to purchase Japanese real estate. Initially supporting Bitcoin and Ethereum, the company will leverage its group strengths to progressively offer comprehensive, one-stop services encompassing property search, purchase, management and sales consultation.
The Open House Group boasts a diverse portfolio, primarily centered in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka, ranging from residential houses and condominiums to investment properties such as studio condominiums and office buildings. The company’s integrated business model of development, sales and management allows for the provision of various solutions to clients. Additionally, Open House Group companies manage resort properties and U.S. real estate, providing clients with consultation on all aspects of property research, construction, sales and future resale within in a one-stop service.
Since 2022, Open House Group has been exploring the application of cryptocurrencies and blockchain in business operations, including sponsoring a research group on Bitcoin’s Lightning Network. Yokiko Nishimura, who is in charge of this initiative, has been at the forefront of establishing industry associations for domestic financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges since 2015, pursuing the potential of cryptocurrencies and blockchain in finance and payments.
The company is focused on harnessing the strengths of cryptocurrencies in cross-border transactions and micropayments to offer enhanced financial services. The company is also exploring the implementation of blockchain-based services utilizing smart contracts.
All Weather Architectural Aluminum Energy-Efficient Windows and Doors
(Pictured above) Recognizing the need for higher-performing custom aluminum windows and doors for the luxury residential segment, All Weather Architectural Aluminum showcased its energy- efficient models in Cavco’s Mountain Modern ADU at the 2025 NAHB International Builder’s Show, held last month in Las Vegas.
Products featured include the Series 6100 Window System, All Weather’s most energy-efficient exterior glazed design. It is the first window engineered to meet Title 24 compliance using the prescriptive method. The Series 6100 features a 3¾-inch frame, mitered corners and European corner keys for structural integrity, is thermally broken and offers dual and triple glazing. The series offers fixed, casement, awning and combination configurations; a maximum casement size of 48 inches x 96 inches; concealed hinges; contemporary encore handle and European Style Fapim operator hardware; SDL & TDL options and Class I clear and bronze anodized finishes.
The Series 7000 Swing Door System, its hinged swing door system, features narrow sightlines and a contemporary aesthetic and is NRFC- certified and acoustically and commercially rated, making it ideal for custom residential and multifamily projects. The series offers dual and triple glazing; multiple weather resistant and low-profile sill options; a max panel width of 48 inches and max panel height of 120 inches; in-swing or out-swing configurations; single and double panels with sidelight and transoms; SDL & TDL options and Class I clear and bronze anodized finishes.
Series 8100 Multi Slide Door System offers multiple possibilities with corner, pocket and flush stacking door configurations in an unlimited number of panels up to 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide. It is commercially and acoustically rated, boasts smooth operation with three-inch Tandem stainless-steel rollers or 1.8” Quadzilla rollers, features multiple weather resistant and low-profile sill options amd is thermally broken. The system also offers mechanically fastened, square-cut corners for narrow sightlines, a contemporary aesthetic and Class I clear and bronze-anodized finishes.
LightBox Unveils True Owner Ownership Solution
Ever have trouble finding the person behind the real estate LLC? LightBox, a provider of geospatial intelligence and property data solutions, announced the launch of True Owner, a solution that provides verified ownership details, corporate officer information and direct contact data in one platform. True Owner is designed for professionals in commercial real estate, finance, insurance, utilities and other industries that rely on accurate property ownership insights to drive their decisions.
LightBox True Owner solves the problem of identifying actual decision-makers behind a commercial property, the company said. Ownership is frequently registered under LLCs, making it difficult to determine who is responsible for an asset. Even when the company is identified, finding the right person and obtaining accurate contact details can be time-consuming and frustrating.
“For too long, professionals have relied on incomplete or outdated ownership information, making it difficult to connect with the right people,” said Eric Frank, CEO of LightBox. “With True Owner, we provide a more complete and reliable view of property ownership, helping our customers make decisions and engage more efficiently.”
Unlike existing tools, which often provide incomplete or unverified contact details, True Owner goes deeper, identifying the real individuals behind ownership entities and verifying their contact information. The result? A dramatic reduction in research time, improved outreach success and faster deal-making, the company predicted.
True Owner will be available within LightBox Vision, LightBox data products and, soon, in the new LightBox Live platform, it continued. By integrating ownership data into these solutions LightBox said it will be easier for professionals to access verified contact details, reduce research time, and improve the success of their outreach efforts.
In addition, by integrating with LightBox’s broader property intelligence platform, professionals can uncover hidden ownership relationships through cross-referenced datasets; streamline outreach efforts with direct, verified contact details and gain a competitive edge by reducing time spent searching and increasing time spent closing deals.
Carrier Introduces QuantumLeap Suite for Data Center Thermal Management
Given the growth of artificial intelligence and cloud usage, data centers may be a favored sector for investors, but all of the technology they house needs serious — and seriously expensive — cooling technology. To help, Carrier Global Corporation has unveiled Carrier QuantumLeap, a comprehensive suite of purpose-built solutions designed to support the industry.
With the global data center cooling market projected to reach $20 billion by 2029, Carrier is expanding its portfolio of advanced, energy-efficient cooling solutions, creating customizable aftermarket programs, scaling manufacturing and engineering capacity and collaborating with global technology leaders. Carrier
QuantumLeap integrates the company’s most advanced cooling, controls and service solutions to deliver an efficient cooling system tailored to each customer’s needs.
“With AI-driven growth, our innovative solutions — such as the integration of direct- to-chip liquid cooling with traditional HVAC cooling systems optimized through intelligent controls platforms — allow data centers to maximize efficiency and reliability,” said Christian Senu, executive director, data centers at Carrier.
Carrier QuantumLeap delivers end-to-end thermal management through intelligent cooling, digital controls and predictive monitoring and service, ensuring real-time optimization, adaptability and efficiency across data center operations. These can include Carrier’s range of chiller solutions that are 30% more efficient than prior generations, its Cooling Distribution Unit (CDU), which enables seamless integration into direct-to-chip (DTC) liquid cooling systems for high- density environments. All are managed by Carrier’s advanced Automated Logic building management system and digital platform.
Next Energy Technologies’ Fully Transparent Organic PV Window
Organic photovoltaic (OPV) maker Next Energy Technologies has upgraded its pilot production line to produce 40-inch by 60-inch laminated transparent power-generating windows using its unique Next OPV coating and manufacturing process. These units are the largest transparent OPV windows produced anywhere in the world, making them a testament to the scalability of Next’stechnology using automated slot-die coating manufacturing techniques.
This pilot production marks a significant step toward enabling the glass industry to produce full-scale vision area glass for clean, solar energy-producing facades, Next said.
Next OPV coatings address the three big challenges to creating a scalable solution for the commercial glass industry: aesthetics, performance and manufacturability. The neutral grey coating, modeled after the most adopted color in North American commercial façades, is combined with power generation and in-line manufacturing to make a first-of-a-kind solution for the glass industry.
A building with Next OPV facades can produce significant onsite renewable power, offsetting 20% to 25% of a typical commercial building’s energy load. The windows also absorb and convert infrared light, reducing the building’s HVAC demands.
“The combination of highest quality aesthetics, power generation and integration with the glass supply chain is a game changer in the push towards designing net zero buildings,” said Andy Cohen, Gensler co-chairman. “Just mid-last year, we were demonstrating Next’s 27-inch by 35-inch OPV windows at our office in L.A., and with this larger window format, we have sustainable building projects in our sights.”
Next is preparing demonstration installations with key U.S. and European partners while focusing on shifting from pilot to production scale and obtaining UL safety and performance certification for grid-connected projects.
“This milestone is further evidence to an industry hungry for a solution that our combination of OPV coatings and advanced manufacturing processing is working, scaling and can be rapidly deployed,” said Daniel Emmett, co-founder, executive chairman and CEO of Next. “It’s a proof point that builds high confidence in our path to enabling 60-inch by 120-inch commercial production.”
Next’s proprietary transparent organic photovoltaic (OPV) coating can transform commercial windows into clean energy- generating facades, the company said, making buildings more sustainable and resilient and alleviating strain on the grid.
