Glass for Europe demonstrates the fundamental contribution of glass products to sustainable buildings

The booklet provides examples of different building types (offices, single-family homes, schools, hospitals, etc.) located under the various European climatic conditions which all achieve high energy efficiency standards and high sustainability criteria thanks to their glazed surfaces, which are largely above average for similar buildings.“This booklet demonstrates that glass products are essential contributors to low-energy and sustainable buildings” says Bertrand Cazes, Secretary General of Glass for Europe.Indeed, most of these buildings have won prizes or obtained ‘top grades’ of sustainability certification schemes for minimal environmental impact.

As such glass products contribute to minimizing buildings’ environmental impact as they reduce energy needs during the use phase of buildings and have the smallest environmental impact of all materials up to the construction phase. In addition, glass products for buildings are fully recyclable at their end of lives.

‘Modern glazing solutions provide natural daylight into buildings, reduce building energy demand for heating, cooling and lighting, while generating minimal environmental impact. As such glass is a product of choice for sustainable building design’, added Bertrand Cazes.

The booklet and accompanying video clip can be downloaded from this URL: http://www.glassforeurope.com/en/issues/building-glass.php

About Glass for Europe

Glass for Europe is the trade association for Europe’s manufacturers of flat glass. Flat glass is the material that goes into a variety of end-products and primarily in windows and façades for buildings, windscreens and windows for automotive and transport as well as glass covers, connectors and mirrors for solar-energy equipments. Flat glass is also used for many other applications such as mirrors, furniture, electronics, appliances, etc.

Glass for Europe has four members: AGC Glass Europe, NSG-Group, Saint-Gobain Glass and Sisecam-Trakya Cam and works in association with Guardian. Altogether, these five companies represent 90% of Europe’s flat glass production.