A Comparison of Energy, Economic and Environmental Benefits of Transparent Low-E Glasses

Date: 19 December 2007

In November 2005, PPG Performance Glazings introduced Solarban 70XL glass, a transparent, coated solar control, low-emmissivity (low-e) architectural glass with superior solar control characteristics.

Recently, PPG commissioned a study by the Architectural Energy Corporation (AEC) comparing the energy performance of Solarban 70XL Glass to dual pane tinted glass and several commonly specified high-performance architectural glasses. The study showed that, depending on the size, type and climate of a prospective building, Solarban 70XL glass has the potential to save architects and building owners hundreds of thousands of dollars in upfront capital cooling equipment costs when it is specified instead of competing products. Solarban 70XL glass also can produce annual energy savings of up to 13 percent.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly for environmentally-focused architects, the study also showed that the specifying Solarban 70XL glass for a typical commercial building can reduce CO2 emissions by thousands of tons over its lifetime.

This following paper summarizes the energy and environmental performance of Solarban 70XL glass, dual-pane tinted glass and other commonly specified architectural glasses with similar aesthetic qualities. It also quantifies the potential cost savings Solarban 70XL glass can provide, as well as the positive impact this glass can have for architects seeking to reduce the carbon footprint of their buildings.

Download the entire paper here.