PPG researchers honored with 2008 Carnegie Science Award

The researchers were recognized for their leadership and research oversight in the development of Solarban 70XL solar control lowemissivity (low-e) glass by PPG. They will accept a $1,000 award to support PPG’s ongoing development of energy-efficient glasses in a ceremony May 9 at Carnegie Music Hall in the Oakland area of Pittsburgh.

Carnegie Science Center established the Awards for Excellence program, or Carnegie Science Awards, in 1997 to recognize and promote outstanding science and technology achievements in western Pennsylvania. The Advanced Manufacturing award recognizes accomplishments in the use of automation, innovative processes and technology to achieve extraordinary levels of process control and product quality. This year’s awards are sponsored by Eaton Corp.

“Winning this award demonstrates PPG’s success in creating innovative technologies and bringing them to market and its commitment to environmental responsibility,” said Victoria M. Holt, PPG senior vice president, glass and fiber glass.



Carnegie Science Center Director Joanna Haas said, "The Carnegie Science Awards set, in real time, the scientific innovators and organizations on the leading edge of science that inspire the next generation.”



Introduced in 2005, Solarban 70XL glass features an unprecedented combination of solar control and visible light transmittance in a transparent, color-neutral glass. In a one-inch standard insulating unit, Solarban 70XL glass transmits 64 percent of the sun’s natural light while blocking 73 percent of its solar energy. The resulting light-to-solar gain (LSG) ratio of 2.37 establishes a new standard for performance for architectural glass.



Solarban 70XL glass has demonstrated the potential to generate energy savings in commercial buildings where glazing is a major architectural element. According to U.S. Department of Energy modeling software, substituting Solarban 70XL glass for the next highest-performing solar control low-e glass on a standard glass-walled eight-story office building in Los Angeles could cut annual energy costs by 6.6 percent, or more than $40,000 per year based on 2006 energy rates.



PPG researchers honored with 2008 Carnegie Science Award



Specifying Solarban 70XL glass over other low-e products also enables architects and building owners to reduce cooling capacity and equipment requirements. According to the same U.S. DOE study, the eight-story office building in Los Angeles would require an initial investment in HVAC equipment of nearly $120,000 less if using Solarban 70XL glass instead of the nearest competitive product. Potential savings increase when Solarban 70XL glass is compared to other commonly specified solar control low-e and tinted low-e glasses.



About PPG Pittsburgh-based PPG is a global supplier of paints, coatings, chemicals, optical products, specialty materials, glass and fiber glass. The company has more than 150 manufacturing facilities and equity affiliates and operates in more than 60 countries. Sales in 2007 were US$11.2 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG).



For more information, visit www.ppg.com. –080222CSCawards–



Solarban is a trademark of PPG Industries.