Low-E Insulating Glass
16Pages

Low-E Insulating Glass for Energy Efficient Buildings How policy-makers could save energy and significantly reduce CO2 emissions to meet EU targets for 2020 Europe’s Manufacturers of Building, Automotive and Transport Glass

Key Facts about the EU’s 2020 Targets Fact: Up to 90 million tonnes of CO2 emissions could be saved annually by 2020 if all Europe’s buildings were fitted with double-glazed Low-E insulating glass units (i.e. all existing and new, residential and non-residential buildings). Fact: Up to 97 million tonnes of CO2 emissions could be cut if, in addition to retrofitting existing buildings with Low-E double-glazing, greater use were made of triple-glazed Low-E units for new buildings, where appropriate (i.e. in cooler northern regions). Fact: This is good news because the EU has committed to...

Low-E Insulating Glass is an Energy Saver. Promoting its Use Will Cut CO2 Emissions. Many new and most existing buildings use unnecessary energy in order to keep people comfortably warm inside. This means more CO2 emissions than needed. Over 40% of all energy consumed in the EU is in buildings. Making new and existing buildings as energy efficient as possible will make significant strides towards meeting the EU’s CO2 reduction goals. Policy-makers could achieve around one third of the energy saving targets for buildings identified in the European Commis- sion’s “Action Plan for Energy...

Stay warm. Save energy. Cut emissions. With so much human activity taking place indoors, achieving and maintaining a comfortable temperature is paramount. However, this must be managed in the most energy-efficient and sustainable way. Most buildings we occupy today were constructed at a time when energy efficiency was not a big feature of architectural design. Building products to conserve heat were not optimised. As a result, a huge amount of heat is lost from existing buildings through out-of-date windows. A top priority should be the replacement of inefficient glass in these buildings so...

European Buildings… need New Windows! Double glazing is a well-established product but it is not standard everywhere in Europe. Indeed, huge segments of the building stock in Europe are still single-glazed, wasting vast amounts of energy every minute. Far too often windows are only replaced with double glazing when they become decrepit. Replacing inefficient windows at the current rate will take de- cades to complete. But “endof-life” should not be the criterion for replacement of inefficient windows – energy savings should be the driver. Waiting until window replacement is unavoidable...

A Rigorous Study A scientific determination of the potential benefits of Low-Emissivity glass Glass for Europe commissioned Dutch technical research institute TNO to perform a study of the potential energy and CO2 savings in Europe from an increased use of Low-E insulating glazing. The report of the study is available on request from Glass for Europe or can be downloaded at: www.glassforeurope.com. The study is exceptionally rigorous in its methodology and controls, conservative and cautious in its approach to the assumptions built into the models. This has produced results that are...

Significant Savings Potential Up to 30% of the EU’s CO2 reduction targets for buildings could be achieved with Low-E glazing. Table 1: Annual energy and CO2 savings potential in the EU27 by the year 2020 from optimal use of Low-E insulating glass units. Usage of Low-E insulating glazing Energy savings Millions of tonnes of oil equivalent Triple glazing in all new buildings, except in the South where double glazing is used Double glazing in all buildings (existing & new) Double glazing in all existing buildings Max potential: double & triple glazing (as appropriate) in all existing & new...

Low-E double glazing in all Existing and New Buildings Many buildings in Europe are still not fitted with standard double glazing, let alone Low-E insulating glass units. Table 2, below, offers us a look at the impact use of Low-E insulating glass units would have on CO2 emission levels if all buildings all over Europe, both existing and new, were fitted with double-glazed Low-E insulating glass units. Millions of tonnes of CO2 could be saved annually towards the EU’s 2020 targets. Table 2: Annual energy and CO2 savings potential in 2020 - Use of high performance Low-E double glazing only...

Fitting triple glazing made with Low-E glass can further enhance energy efficiency gains in most parts of Europe. But it doesn't make much sense to do this where the climate is hot in summer, warm in winter. Double-glazed units are the best choice for these regions. Table 3, below, shows the potential of fitting Low-E triple glazing in all future new buildings all over Europe except in milder southerly regions where double glazing suffices. It also shows the impressive potential of combining the use of triple glazing in most new buildings with Low-E double glazing in all existing...

Sustainable Development in Action All across Europe, Low-E insulating glass units can help save energy and cut CO2 emissions. Some of the case studies in the research commissioned by Glass for Europe show very ambitious scenarios. It is unrealistic to think that all the energy inefficient glazing systems in all the existing buildings in Europe will be replaced in the short term. But a serious start could and should be made. On the other hand, it is a simple matter of adapting national building regulations to require all new buildings to be fitted with stateof-the-art glazing appropriate for...

Europe’s leading glass manufacturers have a Vision... • o be forward-looking, innovative providers of state-of-the art products and technologies. T • o provide solutions to the major needs and challenges of our times, now and in the future. T • o be admired and valued for our products, which enhance people’s lives and environment. T • o be a valued partner in promoting safety, security, comfort, and sustainability - recognised as T responsible and responsive. • o be an industrial manufacturing sector in which our employees will always be proud to work. T Glass for Europe is the trade...