Sustainability is no longer a matter of luxury. It is a necessary responsibility in today’s world. Buildings contribute over 40% to the world’s energy consumption, and utilizing the proper material in buildings is an essential step toward a more sustainable future. One key player in energy efficiency is high-performance glass. In contemporary architecture, glass is widely used for aesthetics, sight lines, and natural light.
However, regular glass, by its nature, permits heat to transfer out of the building envelope or into the indoor environments, resulting in a heat transfer rate of up to 80%, placing pressure on HVAC systems for commercial buildings and resulting in increased operating costs and poor indoor comfort levels. Luckily, there are specially designed energy-efficient glass solutions available that will fulfill your needs for an energy-efficient and sustainable operating cost in glass-heavy buildings.
Have you ever wondered how much energy is leaking through the glass windows of your home, or how hard are your HVAC systems working overtime on those extreme nights?
That concern likely lies within your glass application. With an investment in High-Performance glass at the time of operation, not only will you decrease your energy consumption and increase the comfort of your space, but you will also help the environment. It is a simple execution that can create a large change.
What is Energy-Efficient Glass and Why Does It Matter?
Energy-efficient glass otherwise referred to as high-performance glass is engineered to maximize thermal insulation and regulate heat/light transfusion. In contrast to regular glass that easily allows heat to pass through, high-performance glass uses advanced coatings and other manufacturing pressures to either reflect or absorb infrared radiation. This ensures that interiors are cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
Consider this:
- Is your home getting unbearably hot in the summer even if the AC is running?
- Are your energy bills astronomical each winter because heat is escaping?
This would suggest that whatever glazing solution you are using is outdated. Upgrading to High-Performance Glass for Energy Efficiency can make a considerable difference, helping you to create a comfortable indoor environment year-round while reducing utility bills.
The Science that Makes High-Performance Glass Work
The technology behind high-performance glass involves a unique blend of physics, chemistry, and smart engineering. High-performance glass typically involves microscopically thin coatings of either metal or a metal oxide that selectively filter, or allow, specific spectral bands of solar radiation.
For example, some coatings reflect infrared rays (heat) while allowing other thermal radiation (such as visible light) to have free path. Other coatings absorb heat and re-radiate that energy in a specific direction (either in or out of the building).This is particularly advantageous to buildings that have more glass on the exterior of the building (the glass exterior façade system) or skyrise buildings with large skylights.
For example, in the case of a commercial office tower in a tropical climate, conventional glass would allow too much heat/energy to enter into the building, compromising the air-conditioning system when the heat accumulation within that space is beyond its design ability. This performance would also improve thermal comfort while providing an openness feature to people working in that building.
Generally, there are three types of energy-saving glass products available today. But with high-performance glass, just don’t invite the solar load in! Have you ever walked into a room full of sunlight and thought “wow that is cool”? It’s often the effect of high-performance glass working.
Categories of Energy-Efficient Glass
Energy-efficient glazing comes in many forms. Different structures, climates, and design goals call for different types of High-Performance Energy Efficient Glass.
- Low-E (Low Emissivity) Glass: This glass type has a nearly invisible coating that reflects thermal radiation. It keeps heat in during the winter and reflects heat in the summer away from the building and its occupants. When implemented, this means less use of heating systems and less use of cooling systems. If you’ve ever asked, “Why is my room so cold when I have double-glazed windows?” It’s time to look at Low-E glass with better thermal insulation values.
- Solar Control Glass: This glass type limits the amount of solar heat that a building absorbs without reducing the amount of natural light that comes into it. When used in hot areas or when there is large glass on a building, this type of glass is beneficial. Solar Control glass is suitable for residential buildings, conservatory roofs, malls, showrooms, , and educational institutions. These places are mostly operational during the day and can utilize natural light for heightened productivity with the help of energy-efficient glass. If your interior spaces have too much glare or low levels of temperature near windows, the solar control glass may help, by limiting glare and still allow visibility and amount of light into the space.
- Solar Control Low-E Glass: This glazing is the ultimate in energy-efficient glass, combining the advantages of Low-E glass and solar control glass together. It both insulates to keep heat in or out, and prevents the disproportionate amount of heat gain associated with direct sunlight. This type of glass is ideal for both zero energy and passive house performance criteria. If you intend to achieve LEED certification, or are interested in being ahead of the curve for accelerating climate change considerations, this category of glazing is an area to investigate.
- Double Glazed Glass: This category of glazing consists of two pieces of glazing held apart by a spacer with a factory seal to have air or gas in between. The insulating layer slows down heat transfer, provides sound insulation, and maximizes thermal performance. It is great for hot or cold climates and is probably the most popular type of glazing for homes and commercial buildings requiring an annual performance balance.
- Tinted Glass: Tinted energy efficient glass pulls some of the incoming solar gain and takes some of the heat out of the daylight while still allowing an adequate amount of light transmittance for indoor conditions. Tinted glass performs very well in hot or sunny climates because it is effective in removing indoor solar glare and heating. Ever wonder why certain office spaces stay cooler even in direct sunlight? In some cases, it may just be the glazing type they use that makes the difference.
Discover the TPRS plus points in Energy Efficient Glazing
With so many glass suppliers in the marketplace, TPRS Glass sets themselves apart through innovative, high quality, and customer-focused solutions. Their dedication to sustainability and energy efficiency is evident in every product they provide. TPRS Glass utilizes leading edge coating technologies, specifically designed for various climates and orientations around the building. Whether you are building a beachside residence or an office tower, their products are designed to perform in the harshest conditions.
Have you ever found it difficult to source a glass supplier that understands your specific energy challenges? TPRS Glass knows that and provides consultative advice to ensure that you get a product that meets your needs. Of course, performance is a priority, however TPRS Glass considers aesthetics and durability too. Their products maintain their clarity and brilliance for years of exposure while delivering industry leading thermal performance. They also emphasize green manufacturing processes to ensure that the glass solutions they provide have a minimal carbon footprint from manufacturing to installation.
Finalizing the Agreement on Smarter Glass Solutions
Choosing smart materials is the first step in achieving sustainability and energy savings. When you select High-Performance Glass for Energy Efficiency for your construction or renovation, you are not only enhancing the comfort and beauty of your project—you are making a long-term commitment to an energy conserving effort and environmental stewardship.In a climate where every degree of temperature control matters, and every watt counts, upgrading your windows could mean the difference between average performance and energy-smart application.
Partner with a trustworthy expert, like TPRS Glass, and be at ease knowing you have made the clear choice for a leading, sustainable future.So ask yourself: Is your glass performing its duty for your space? If your answer is no, maybe it is time to step into the world of high-performance glass!
