Shipments of SOLARBAN 70XL glass by PPG surpass 94 million square feet

Solarban 70XL glass, which was introduced at the 2005 GreenBuild International Conference and Expo, set a new standard for solar control performance for architectural glasses with a clear-glass appearance. Featuring a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.27 and visible light transmittance (VLT) of 64 percent, Solarban 70XL glass has a light-to-solar gain (LSG) ratio of 2.37 that remains unmatched six years after its introduction.



RBC Centre, Toronto, Canada’s first LEED Gold Certified Office Building

The RBC Centre, Toronto, features floor-to-ceiling windows made with Solarban 70XL glass by PPG. The ability of Solarban 70XL glass to block heat while transmitting high levels of light enabled the 41-story tower to become the first LEED Gold Certified office building in Canada.

Photography by Shai Gill



Architects HGW, San Diego, California’s First Net-Zero-Energy Building

Architects HGW (Hanna Gabriel Wells), San Diego, specified Solarban 70XL glass by PPG for their new corporate headquarters, transforming a humble, former 4,500-square-foot auto repair shop into California’s first net-zero-energy building. The architects chose Solarban 70XL glass for its extraordinary solar performance and clear glass appearance.

Photography by Tom Kessler

Glenn Miner, PPG director, construction, flat glass, said that Solarban 70XL glass has been installed on more than 300 commercial buildings. Had the same buildings been glazed with double-silver, low-e coated glass, he estimates that owners would have spent $81 million more on heating- and cooling-related energy. Those savings, which average more than $25 million per building, do not consider additional capital cost reductions that owners may have realized by installing smaller, less-expensive HVAC units.

Miner said that Solarban 70XL glass is the leading choice for architects and building owners seeking to optimize energy performance while maintaining a true, transparent-glass appearance. “Other companies have introduced competitive triple-silver coated glasses, but in our opinion, none offer the balance of clarity and solar control that Solarban 70XL glass does,” he said. “That is due to the proprietary formulation of both the Solarban 70XL glass coating and the glass substrate.”

Solarban 70XL glass has been installed on more than 100 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified buildings, including several that have earned green building of the year awards from the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Committee on the Environment (COTE). To learn more, visit www.ppgideascapes.com or call 1-888-PPG-IDEA (774-4332).

About PPG

PPG Industries’ vision is to continue to be the world’s leading coatings and specialty products company. Founded in 1883, the company serves customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, PPG operates in more than 60 countries around the globe. Sales in 2010 were $13.4 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG).

For more information, visit www.ppg.com.