Thermochromic　(TC)　window　has　been　developed　as　an　effective　approach　to　realize　building　energy　saving　by　regulating　solar　transmittance　according　to　temperature　stimuli;　however,　the　non-uniform　transmission　and　absorption　of　the　solar　spectrum　result　in　a　significant　color　shift　and　temperature　increase.　This　study　investigates　the　radiometric,　photometric　and　colorimetric　performances　of　four　different　TC　windows　with　an　experiment-verified　model.　The　simulation　and　calculation　are　conducted　under　measured　spectrum　conditions　in　Beijing;　subsequently,　a　comprehensive　evaluation　method　for　daylight-thermal　environment　method　is　conducted.　The　results　show　that　all　selected　TC　windows　possess　an　energy　efficiency　between　3.0%　and　7.9%,　improve　daylight　availability　from　2.8%　to　18.8%,　and　reduce　discomfort　hours　by　up　to　111　h.　Two　hydrogel　TC　windows　improve　the　quality　of　dynamic　transmitted　daylight　by　nearly　7%　considering　correlated　color　temperature　and　color　rendering　index;　the　HETS　hydrogel　TC　window　is　found　to　be　the　most　suitable　for　Beijing.　Finally,　to　increase　the　application　potential　of　TC　windows　in　Beijing,　several　material　properties　are　desired,　including　high　transition　temperature　with　high　solar　modulation　capability,　high　and　uniform　visible　light　trans-mittance,　and　low　emissivity.　This　process　for　the　optimization　of　climate-responsive　material　can　be　further　adopted　in　other　areas.　(c)　2022　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.