Vanadium dioxide displays thermochromic properties based on its structural phase transition from monoclinic VO2 (M) to rutile VO2 (R) and vice versa, and the accompanying reversible metal-insulator transition. We developed a single layer coating comprising VO2 (M) and SiO2. We applied the coating from an alcoholic solution comprising vanadium(IV) oxalate complex and pre-oligomerized tetra ethoxy silane to SiO2-coated float glass using dip coating, and thermally annealed the dried xerocoat in a two-step process. The addition of SiO2 as coating matrix resulted in non-scattering coatings with low surface roughness and random distribution of VO2 nanodomains (≤200 nm). Furthermore, the formation of the coating, comprising a phase separation yielding SiO2 and VO2 nanodomains during the thermal anneal, was studied in detail. The coating displays unrivalled optical properties, combining high visible light transmission Tvis > 60% and large solar modulation ΔTsol ≥ 10%. When applied in insulating glass units, the coating has a positive impact on energy savings for heating and cooling of buildings in intermediate climates, which we demonstrated through building energy simulations. For a typical house in the Netherlands, energy savings up to 24% were obtained. In addition, we demonstrate a coating stability comparable to current energy-efficient window coatings during processing into and in insulating glass units through (accelerated) life time tests.