A steady increase in global population over the years has translated to a huge demand for residential and commercial spaces, not to mention roads, bridges and public utility infrastructure. This has led to a demand for ecologically sustainable structures using eco-friendly materials, processes and practices. Glass has emerged to become one of the most important components in construction, used in exteriors for windows, cladding, balustrades, skylights and internally for partitions, furniture, panelling, roofing, flooring and in many more creative ways.
Aesthetics apart, glass offers several other enduring benefits. Firstly, it reduces the structural load as the material is lightweight. Considering it is transparent, it lets in natural light as much as possible which translates to a reduction in power consumption. With the right reflection and thermal insulation, glass increases efficiency. Other benefits include security, not to mention the lovely views glass offers when used in roofs, facades and other exterior areas.
Glass production has changed in recent years and there are several innovations that are making it eco-friendly. 30% of the raw materials are from melted old glass. And the thermal insulation values of glass have improved significantly with the help of high-tech additives and mixtures. Buildings with superior glazing have a significantly higher energy efficiency, a key parameter for sustainability.
The other development is specialised Low-E and infrared coatings. With this glass absorbs only certain colour spectra from light. When effectively used with shadow and ventilation systems, these facades get to be very efficient in winter while ensuring a pleasant temperature in summer. In well-designed structures, workspaces are so well lit that additional electric lighting is not required during the day.
Role of glazing in increasing efficiency of buildings
Interiors can vastly benefit from a copious amount of natural light by using the right glass, which can also offer the expected thermal performance (like keeping the heat outside in Middle East countries or keeping the heat trapped in colder regions). High-performance glazing minimises the transfer of heat to the building and can have a high impact on the total efficiency, not to mention the periodic power bill.
Experts opine that 47% of all heat losses from a building envelope occur in windows. This is because windows have a higher overall heat transfer coefficient (U-value) compared to other components in the structure envelope. Double-glazed windows are a sought after solution to overcome these challenges. They can play a key role in improving the energy efficiency of lighting.
Photochromic glazing changes the transparency depending on the intensity of light (like that offered in a few sunglasses). Thermochromic glazing becomes darker when it is hot which also finds uses.
Glass to help in acoustic insulation
Glass is a good conductor of sound and laminated glass with multiple plies and acoustic interlayers is a very effective sound insulator. In areas with heavy traffic and noise such as those with proximity to airports and metro stations, an additional acoustic layer to the glass panel can significantly alter the glass’s acoustic performance.
Low-carbon glass: A game changer in construction
With architects and designers working to improve materials to address climate change, glass too is evolving, powered by technology and innovation. Low Carbon glass stands out as a pioneering innovation that has the potential to reduce a building’s carbon footprint and play a significant role towards a sustainable future. Low-carbon glass can reduce carbon emissions by over 40% compared with regular glass.
Low carbon glass is a glass substrate with low embodied carbon when compared with regular clear glass. Low carbon glass uses a high percentage of recycled content for raw materials (up to 70%) and is made with 100% liquefied natural gas and electricity generated from renewable sources. Low carbon glass holds potential as an eco-friendly choice.
The glass can also be laminated with a PVB interlayer to make it impact resistant. It can also be etched on like it is done with regular glass. Low-carbon glass finds excellent use in skylights, windows or facades, and is all set to become an integral part of all eco-friendly structures in the future.
Him Imperial – pushing the envelope of innovation in glass
Him Imperial Auto Glass Works is one of India’s leading manufacturers of glass and a complete glass solutions company. Him Imperial produces several varieties of glass for various applications and is the preferred choice of India’s leading architects and interior design consultants. We follow proven practices and manufacturing methodologies and are committed to creating products that align with the various eco-friendly initiatives being pursued by the global construction ecosystem.
Established in 2008 in Kala Amb, Himachal Pradesh, Him Imperial manufactures to exacting internal standards using the finest raw materials and processes. We are an ISO 9001:2015 certified company and our products’ quality standards are approved/verified by ARAI (THE AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION OF INDIA), ICAT (INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY), BIS (BUREAU OF INDIA STANDARDS) & IATF (TS). We are a European Union (E+ Marking) certified company.
Our manufacturing facilities incorporate modern machinery and a full-fledged testing lab with sophisticated equipment. We have developed a high level of competence in product development that includes in-house tool design. Today we are a widely recognised automotive and construction glass solutions company and produce one of the largest spans of laminated glass (2000 * 3000 mm wide) for front windshields of heavy vehicles.
Since inception, we have worked to forge long term relationships with our customers and are driven by the core values of integrity, transparency and commitment to quality. We are proud to have some of the best known names in the industry for customers – leading coach builders, state road transport corporations, heavy engineering equipment manufacturers, reputed builders and developers, prestigious manufacturers of buses, cars and trucks among others, who vouch for Him Imperial laminated safety glass.
To learn more about our offerings in laminated glass and our range of products, visit us at www.himimperial.in.