PPG glass on first project to earn SITES program four-star rating

Date: 24 April 2014

PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG) has announced that the Center for Sustainable Landscapes at Phipps Conservatory, Pittsburgh, which recently became the first project to earn a four-star rating through THE SUSTAINABLE SITES INITIATIVE™ program, or SITES™ program, was constructed with SOLARBAN® 60, SUNGATE® 500 and STARPHIRE® ultra-clear glass by PPG. PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG) has announced that the Center for Sustainable Landscapes at Phipps Conservatory, Pittsburgh, which recently became the first project to earn a four-star rating through THE SUSTAINABLE SITES INITIATIVE™ program, or SITES™ program, was constructed with SOLARBAN® 60, SUNGATE® 500 and STARPHIRE® ultra-clear glass by PPG.

The Phipps Center for Sustainable Landscapes fulfills all its energy and water needs on-site. The 24,000-square-foot center, which also is LEED® certified to the Platinum level and seeking to become one of the world’s first certified “living buildings,” was designed as a long, window-lined rectangle so natural light could penetrate into the deepest parts of the building to foster plant growth and reduce reliance on artificial lighting. (Photography by Jim Schafer)

The Phipps Center for Sustainable Landscapes fulfills all its energy and water needs on-site. Architect Chris Minnerly, AIA, LEED AP, who is principal of The Design Alliance Architects, Pittsburgh, specified the PPG glasses as an integral part of the project’s zero-energy design for their ability to control solar heat gain and maximize daylighting.

Two types of triple-pane insulating glass units (IGUs) were used. Above the building’s sunshades and light shelves, Sungate 500 passive, low-emissivity (low-e) glass is combined with Starphire ultra-clear and conventional clear glasses to transmit 63 percent of the sun’s visible light into the building while blocking nearly half its heat energy. On the lower part of the façade, triple-pane IGUs configured with Solarban 60 solar control, low-e and Starphire glasses produce visible light transmittance (VLT) of 61 percent and a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.32, resulting in an exceptional light-to-solar-gain (LSG) ratio of 1.90.

The 24,000-square-foot center, which also is LEED® certified to the Platinum level and seeking to become one of the world’s first certified “living buildings,” was designed as a long, window-lined rectangle so natural light could penetrate into the deepest parts of the building to foster plant growth and reduce reliance on artificial lighting.

To achieve zero-energy performance, the center draws about 70 percent of its heating and cooling energy from a thermal well system, and the remainder is satisfied with solar energy generated by building-integrated photovoltaic cells.

Other glass-related performance features include light shelves, Brise-soleil screens, louvers and window overhangs to minimize summer cooling loads. Translucent window shades block heat gain in the summer and cut winter and nighttime heat loss.

PPG is the first and only U.S. float glass manufacturer to earn recognition through the CRADLE TO CRADLE CERTIFIED(CM) program for its products, and it offers more architectural glasses certified through the program than does any other float glass manufacturer. To learn more about high-performance PPG glasses, visit www.ppgideascapes.com or call 1-888-PPG-IDEA (774-4332).

About THE SUSTAINABLE SITES INITIATIVE Program

THE SUSTAINABLE SITES INITIATIVE program, or SITES program, is a collaboration of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center of the University of Texas at Austin and the United States Botanic Garden. The SITES program was created to fill a critical need for development guidelines and recognition of sustainable landscapes based on their planning, design, construction and intended maintenance. This voluntary, national rating system and set of performance benchmarks can be applied to projects on sites with or without buildings. Since 2010, 26 projects across the U.S. have achieved certification as SITES program pilot projects. For more information, visit www.sustainablesites.org.

PPG: BRINGING INNOVATION TO THE SURFACE.™

PPG Industries' vision is to continue to be the world’s leading coatings and specialty materials company. Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and color, PPG helps customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. Founded in 1883, PPG has global headquarters in Pittsburgh and operates in nearly 70 countries around the world. Net sales in 2013 were $15.1 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com and follow @PPGIndustries on Twitter.

Bringing innovation to the surface is a trademark and Solarban, Starphire and Sungate are registered trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

LEED – an acronym for the phrase “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” – is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Cradle to Cradle Certified is a certification mark licensed by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.

Other third-party trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Contact:

Rob Struble

PPG Flat Glass

412-820-8138

rstruble@ppg.com

www.ppgideascapes.com