Glass may have previously be regarded as a rogue in a green world, but a series of hi-tech developments has boosted its eco credentials within the home, suggests leading glass processors, ESG.
Without a doubt, modern architectural movements have seen glass being used to introduce shadow and texture to internal spaces, creating buildings accentuated by light and space. Remove light and any building would present a limited experience that would be entirely nonvisual. Put simply, glass helps to make sense of buildings.
However, with 40% of the UK’s carbon being consumed in maintaining a comfortable interior environment, sustainability and the energy efficiency glass are going to be of increasing concern, as Scott Sinden, Managing Director of ESG explains:
“Façade and glazing technologies will play an increasingly important role in keeping buildings comfortable without compromising energy performance.
“Hi-tech developments in the form of ‘intelligent glass’ are allowing glass to be seen as more eco-friendly building product.”
Firm in the belief that ‘intelligent glazing’ solutions for the residential market are set to grow in popularity, ESG have secured UK exclusivity to supply ESG Polyvision™, the UK’s largest sized privacy glass on the market. By controlling its optical properties upon application of an electrical current, the glass provides significant solar shading, blocking out a large proportion of UV rays.
Using a minute electrical current, users can immediately switch the ESG Polyvision glass from clear to private (opaque) and vice versa. All ESG Polyvision™ panels involve a PDLC film being encapsulated between 2 or more glass sheets, which can be tinted to add further solar protection. When the electrical supply is switched on, the liquid crystal molecules align and incidental light passes through, making the glass clear.
Increasingly it is being used in the residential market for home improvement or refurbishment projects by used in windows, partition screens, shower screens, doors, projection screens, as well as for security purposes. ESG are also experiencing high demand for ESG Polyvision™ for use as solar shading in Conservatories, making blinds (and their associated cleaning) redundant.
http://www.esgpolyvision.co.uk/pdf/polyvisionproductsheet_v7.pdf
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