After having analysed the positive impact of daylight in healthcare, and educational buildings, workplaces, retail buildings and living places, David Strong explained: “Getting daylight into buildings is a key element of sustainable building design. It not only saves energy but it greatly enhances the health, happiness and well-being of occupants.”

Being “extra clear” it allow more light and heat from the sun to enter into the house resulting in so-called passive solar gain; free heat from the sun. These units reduce the amount of heat lost through your windows, but also allow more heat energy from the sun in through the glass in a process known as solar gain.

While sustainability is a hot topic for the public, homeowner demand alone isn’t currently enough of a ‘pull’ to drive efficiency increases in residential property. In the short term, action is coming in the form of initiatives pushed by government and industry.

Currently glass does not suffer from the same image problem as a material like plastic, but it won’t be long before consumers and investors are demanding better environmental and sustainability credits from the various materials used in construction.

Phil Brown, European regulatory marketing manager at Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, part of the NSG Group, reflects on the glass and glazing sector’s sustainable transformation in the face of climate change.

New carbon pledges by international glass manufacturer NSG Group have been certified as science based, as its UK subsidiary Pilkington UK completes a string of world-first trials towards achieving decarbonisation. The NSG Group will reduce its carbon emissions by 30% compared with 2018 levels, by 2030.

97% of buildings in Europe require an energy efficiency refurbishment, according to a new report. Based on data from Energy Performance Certificates (EPC), the conclusion of the latest BPIE analysis is that less than 3% of the building stock in the EU qualifies for an A rating.

This means, where possible, selecting products that limit ‘back stop’ values, or U-values – the rate at which heat transfers through a structure or material, divided by the difference in temperature across that structure of building.

Pilkington Activ Suncool™ Pro T, an innovative extension to the Pilkington Activ Suncool™ range, introduces a new toughenable solution that can provide additional safety and mechanical strength performance to the glass. The new product helps glazing to stay clean while transmitting less of the sun’s energy into buildings ensuring a more comfortable environment all year round.

From 15 th June 2022, new Part O building regulations came into force, changing the way that architects must design new dwellings in England to prevent residents from experiencing extreme temperatures during the summer, while also reducing reliance on cooling systems. The hope is that these new regulations, alongside changes to Part L, which legislates for the conservation of fuel and power in ...