Full text can be accessed at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040609009017787Chromogenic materials allow the transmittance of visible light and solar energy to be varied under the action of an external stimulus. This paper first discusses buildings related energy savings that can be accomplished by chromogenic technologies, and their beneficial effects on comfort issues. We then summarize recent work on thermochromic VO2-based thin films with particular attention to multi-layers of VO2 and TiO2 and to new VO2:Mg films for which the doping gives significantly lowered absorption of visible light. The final part covers electrochromic materials and devices with foci on coloration efficiency and on durability issues for foil-type constructions based on films of WO3 and NiO.