Glenn Phillips, bird collisions and development officer for ABC, said research has proven that birds are unaware of glass, and proactive companies like Pleotint are helpful in developing solutions that can help birds better detect the presence of windows.“After thorough testing in controlled conditions, we found Suntuitive Glass to be effective at reducing bird collisions,” Phillips said. “Suntuitive Glass also has a low Material Threat Factor, enabling it to meet requirements for LEED Pilot Credit 55: Bird Collision Deterrence, which recognizes creatively designed buildings that deter bird collisions.”Chad Simkins, vice president of Pleotint, said bird-friendly solutions can work hand-in-hand with sustainable design.“Unfortunately, birds misinterpret the reflection of trees, grass, water, and sky in glass and fly into it, often resulting in death,” Simkins said.The desire to prevent bird-glass collisions is increasing and we see this translating into cities such as San Francisco, Toronto, and others enacting bird-friendly building codes to reduce the hazards the built environment can have on the lifespan of birds.
“Suntuitive Glass is an innovative solution that offers architects design flexibility. It also is an ideal alternative to patterned glass because it offers many other benefits, like daylighting, without aesthetic limitations.”
About one third of bird species are in significant decline and are on the verge of becoming endangered. According to ABC, windows are the third leading cause of population decline, trailing only loss of habitat and competition with invasive species.
“Each year, 20 to 50 birds die from colliding with a single building, and 2 to 3 for a home,” Phillips added. “It’s a staggering problem when you look at the national data. Up to a billion birds are killed each year in the United States because they collide with glass windows and doors.”
To learn more about bird-friendly design, visit www.BirdSmartGlass.org. For more information on self-tinting Suntuitive Glass, please visit www.Suntuitive.com.
About Pleotint, LLC
Pleotint, LLC, is the world’s top manufacturer of dynamic glass. Pleotint produces Suntuitive® Glass technology that simply uses heat from sunlight to tint windows when necessary. Pleotint is dedicated to providing customers with naturally brilliant windows that increase energy efficiency and optimize comfort and views. For more information, visit www.Pleotint.com.
Suntuitive Glass Becomes First Dynamic Glass to be Approved as Bird-Friendly
Pleotint, LLC, announced that self-tinting Suntuitive® Glass is the first and only dynamic glass to receive a bird-friendly label from the American Bird Conservancy (ABC), the leading bird conservation specialist in the Western Hemisphere.