PPG glass helps win 2013 Green Design Award from USGlass magazine

PPG supplied SOLARBAN® 60, SUNGATE® 500 and STARPHIRE® glasses for the project.  

The 24,000-square-foot building, which is LEED® Platinum certified, features the PPG glasses as part of an integrated energy management system that helps the center produce as much energy as it consumes.

PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG) announced that its glass products helped the Center for Sustainable Landscapes at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh win a 2013 Green Design Award from USGlass magazine. PPG supplied SOLARBAN® 60, SUNGATE® 500 and STARPHIRE® glasses for the project. Two triple-pane insulating glass unit (IGU) configurations featuring PPG glass were specified for different parts of the building facade. IGUs with SUNGATE 500 passive, low-emissivity (low-e) glass; clear glass; and STARPHIRE ultra-clear glass were installed above the building’s sunshades and light shelves. IGUs with SOLARBAN 60 solar control, low-e glass and STARPHIRE glass were used below them. (Photography by Jim Schafer)

Chris Minnerly, AIA, LEED AP and principal of The Design Alliance Architects, Pittsburgh, specified two triple-pane insulating glass unit (IGU) configurations featuring PPG glass for different parts of the building facade. IGUs with Sungate 500 passive, low-emissivity (low-e) glass; clear glass; and Starphire ultra-clear glass were installed above the building’s sunshades and light shelves. IGUs with Solarban 60 solar control, low-e glass and Starphire glass were used below them.

“One of the key aspects of glass selection (was) to balance the solar heat gain coefficient against the visible light transmittance to get the best overall performance,” Minnerly explained. “The glass assemblies had to have the best UV (ultraviolet) transmission in certain light spectrums to facilitate the growth of plants.”

Minnerly designed the center as a long, window-lined rectangle to enable light to penetrate into the deepest parts of the building. Glass-related features such as louvers, Brise-soleil screens and overhangs minimize summer cooling loads, reduce glare and contain heat in the winter.

The triple-pane IGUs with Sungate 500, clear and Starphire glasses have visible light transmittance (VLT) of 63 percent and a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.51, which produces a light-to-solar gain (LSG) ratio of 1.24. The IGUs with Solarban 60 and Starphire glass generate an LSG ratio of 1.90 based on VLT of 61 percent and a SHGC of 0.32. Both configurations have winter nighttime U-values of less than 0.20.

The Center for Sustainable Landscapes at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens was selected for a 2013 Green Design Award by judges focused on high-performance, energy-efficient and “green” design practices

 

“USGlass magazine’s green design awards recognize projects that truly embrace high-performance, sustainable design practices,” said Ellen Rogers, editor. “The Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Center for Sustainable Landscapes project is more than deserving of this award, and we applaud PPG and all those involved with it for their work in creating a truly green structure.”

PPG is the first U.S. float glass manufacturer to have its products recognized by the CRADLE TO CRADLE CERTIFIED(CM) program, and it offers more C2C-certified architectural glasses than 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).

PPG: BRINGING INNOVATION TO THE SURFACE.(TM)

PPG Industries' vision is to continue to be the world’s leading coatings and specialty products 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. Sales in 2012 were $15.2 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 of licensed by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.

 

 

Contact:

Rob Struble

PPG Flat Glass

412-820-8138

rstruble@ppg.com

www.ppgideascapes.com