It’s nothing new to say that, we are on the verge of wiping out our most the resources. And the most scaring one is the Energy. Inappropriate use of resources has led us to a situation where we are not only short of resources but we have created harm to the environment is a massive way. Global warming, ozone layer depletion, shortage of water electricity and much more are merely a result of human’s need and greed.
One of the industry where the most efficient use of resources can be done but due to the lack of awareness, wide wastage of resources are done – ‘Construction.’ While constructing a home or a building most the people are unaware of the fact which materials to use which are not budget-friendly but also eco-friendly and most importantly will be durable for longer period of time.
Today we are gonna talk about one such material which will not only save energy but have several other benefits too.
It would be not wrong to say that almost every building utilizes glass in one or another way, still it is one of the most overlooked building construction material. There are many who remain unaware that using right type of glass can make a major difference in the energy consumption of home.
Not only one use an ‘eco-friendly’ glass while constructing their house but it is also feasible to change the glass of an existing house/apartment from regular to one that is more ‘Eco-friendly.’
With the raising awareness about use of sustainable material increasing day by day, property developers and real estate companies are also doing their bit in improving the environment for a better future. This has led to the boost of green buildings.
One of the most vital materials within the construction of a green building is glass whose specialized energy efficient and eco-friendly varieties like solar control and tinted glass are used.
The development of green buildings is a step towards that direction. Green buildings are buildings which use less water, optimize energy efficiency, conserve natural resources, generate less waste and provide healthier spaces for occupants, as compared to a conventional building.
They are also beneficial for the environment as most buildings use recycled and environmental friendly building materials and provide effective building management systems.
Econaur is one such platform which promotes the use of eco-friendly products and sustainable development. Econaur’s main focus is to promote the construction of more and more green buildings in the country. Also to aware people of the advantages and clear the myths about the green buildings.
Use of Glass in Architecture of Green Buildings
To achieve all of this, developers use glass as a major component during the construction. Glass is known to be an excellent green material. Glass, as a transparent material, allows sunlight into the building reducing the need for artificial lighting – which contributes to around 25 per cent of energy consumed in buildings today.
Types of glasses like solar control glasses and low-e glass can reflect heat or UV rays to maintain optimal temperature inside the building. Glass in buildings also allows daylight to make the interiors airier and more open.
From design, appearance, thermal performance and comfort, to simple aesthetics, selecting the right glass is inevitably important for constructing a green building.
Glasses such as AIS Ecosense, a low-E high performance energy efficient glass helps a green building achieve great balance between all the parameters, and blocks a high amount of solar radiation by reflecting away the infrared part of sunlight.
This helps building remain invariably cool in summers and cuts down on the energy bills and air conditioning usage. And in the winters, they ensure solar gain. So no matter what the season is, people can stay comfortable inside all the times.
Glass and Energy Saving
When used properly, glasses can reduce the total energy consumption by anywhere between 8-10 percent. Hence, the accrued benefits of using glasses keep growing over the years.
Furthermore, it is not just the recurring savings but also the reduction in capex because of the lower energy loads required for conditioning the building that further augments the versatile nature of these glasses.
Typically, the heat gained or lost through glazing in a normal building is anywhere between 40-50 percent and using the right type of glass can bring down the energy consumption by 30-40 percent. The incremental cost for high performance glazing can be recovered in a time span of 3-4 years.
Are these eco-friendly glasses expensive?
Once considered an expensive commodity, glass today is cost efficient. It is true that, to begin with, achieving Green Buildings meant shelling out something extra. This was the majorly due to limited supply of access to technology and products that help achieve such efficiency.
However, today we have product manufacturers, cutting across product lines, which have been able to develop green friendly products in India thereby making it affordable and price-competitive.
The products efficiency and pricing have come to a level where it is practically possible to recover the incremental cost within the first few months of completion and occupancy.
Impact on Environment
The biggest advantage that makes glass a major component in green buildings is the fact that it is recyclable and also does not have a huge impact on the environment itself. Glass can play a role in accomplishing greater indoor environmental quality and when used carefully, can also improve energy efficiency.
Along with tangible benefits, glass can also provide enhanced air quality, excellent daylighting and general health & well-being of the occupants. Through a global point of view, conservation of scarce national resources is also a huge advantage while its widespread acceptance and enhanced marketability for the project makes it a viable option for the industry too.
Conclusion
Little things only makes the big differences. And as little as making changes to what kind of glass you are using in your home/building can make a huge difference for both you and the environment. I think it is the perfect time now that we should start thinking for nature and also for our future generations. Making changes today only can ensure a safer future tomorrow.
