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Control the sun
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The sun is the most constant and powerful source of heat and light in our solar system. The sun radiates enormous amounts of energy, but only a tiny portion of it reaches the earth. 42 percent of this energy is transformed into light and 58 percent reaches the earth as heat in form of UV and IR rays.
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 Solar energy can be very pleasant and utilizable in many cases but, especially in building, it represents the major source for overheating and unpleasant glare. Glass industry has found the answer in several solar controlling glasses. Solar control glass, usually either body tinted (absorbing) or coated (reflecting), is used to reduce unwanted solar radiant light and heat energy transmitted through the glass. The selection of a solar control glass is of vital importance in determining the comfort of the occupants, running costs of air-conditioning systems and the environmental impact of energy consumption, which could be avoided by using passive solar control. When solar radiation in the form of light and heat strikes a glass window it is partly reflected, partly transmitted and partly absorbed. Solar control glasses reduce the solar radiant light and heat energy, transmitted through the glass, by increasing the amount absorbed and/or reflected.
Most common terms used:
Reflectance: the percentage of energy that is reflected by the glass.
Absorptance: the percentage of energy that is absorbed by the glass.
Transmittance: the percentage of energy transmitted directly through the glass.
Light transmission: the percentage of light that is transmitted directly through the glass
Light reflection: the percentage of light that is reflected by the glass
Light dispersion: the percent of dispersed light
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Photos: Architectureweek.com
Last review: February, 2005 |
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| Other Net Sources |
Manual
Solar radiation data manual for buildings.
Sun control
Using solar control glass.
Discussion
This case concerns a dispute between two major manufacturers of automotive glass; the dispute revolves around glass compositions known as "solar control glass,"
Solar contral glass
Different types of solar control glass.
Commercial building facades
Spectrally selective solar control glasses
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