According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, global energy consumption will grow by 58 percent through 2040. Most of that growth will come from countries like China and India.

Concerns over the effects of fossil fuel emissions on the environment, along with long-term high global oil prices, has many turning to renewable energy sources, like solar power.

John Conklin is president of SolarWindow Technologies where a first-ever electricity-generating product is about to transform the world’s windows into powerful energy conductors.

“Our technology is chemistry; it’s chemistry in the making, chemistry making the electricity,” explained Conklin.

John Conklin: Sun-powered skyscrapers

John Conklin, president of SolarWindow Technologies, talks about using high-rises to create solar energy.

SolarWindow says a 50-story building could deliver results 50 times more powerful than conventional rooftop solar panels. By harnessing the sun’s power and integrating it into new and existing structures, SolarWindow believes, eventually, skyscrapers and high-rises could offset their power needs by simply generating their own electricity.

“We see this as a global application having a positive, favorable impact on greenhouse gas emissions,” Conklin said.

From New York, John Conklin joined May Lee in our Los Angeles studio to talk about this new twist on solar energy.