If you come across any green building, glass is often one of the most dominating features that you’ll notice. Over the past few decades, glass manufacturing has improved and aligned with the goals of the green movement. The smart use of efficient glazing, as well as structural skylights, aids in designing and building energy-efficient to low energy buildings.
Ecotech Glass notes that in the past, glass was once conceived as the weakest points of any building, but the development of high-performance glass products and technologies have radically changed people’s views. Not only does it play a key role in achieving low energy standards, it also delivers on the style and comfort requirements of contemporary structures.
Smart and Efficient Glazing
The smart use of efficient glazing in glass products enhances the energy performance of any building. In colder climates, large glazed surfaces and windows play the critical role of allowing maximum natural daylight in and achieving the desired thermal objectives and energy balance.
Many designers and engineers incorporate double and triple glazed units, as well as low emissivity coatings and inert gas fillings to improve the insulation of glass facades and windows. Without the introduction of high-performance glass, humanity would not have achieved nearly-zero energy buildings.
Structural Skylights
Designers and engineers also incorporate glass skylighting techniques on top of glazing solutions to provide sufficient daylight, reduce energy consumption and achieve a positive balance of energy. They also make use of glass to either maximise or limit solar heat gains, depending on the building’s needs, to reduce or eliminate the need for energy-hogging heating systems.
Another notable quality of glass is that it has minimal environmental impact, which makes it an ideal solution in sustainable architecture. On top of that, glass products are recyclable and innovative, energy-efficient manufacturing techniques have lower environmental impact compared to that of conventional materials.
Glass not only offers numerous environmental benefits and positive attributes, it also adds a contemporary touch to any building type. No wonder it is a popular choice for facades, surfaces and windows in sustainable buildings.