Prevalence of Energy-Efficient Glass
The adoption of high-performance thermal insulating glass to meet the increased energy efficiency needs of buildings and homes is an urgent matter.
Within the last 25 years, in mature markets such as Japan, Europe and North America, the growing need for energy efficiency has driven the switch from single glazing to insulated, double-glazing units.
With stricter energy standards being enforced since the initiation of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, insulated glazing units for new buildings and homes in most parts of Europe have become mandatory. Legislation requiring higher efficiency, Low-E double-glazing units has also been introduced.
(U.S., EU nations, UK, Japan)
However, Low-E double-glazing units have yet to become sufficiently utilized in existing homes. Of the approximate 46 million existing homes in Japan, the usage rate of Low-E double-glazing units is a mere 0.3 per cent. To encourage higher take-up, in April 2006, the NSG Group joined the Flat Glass Association of Japan and other industry organizations in educational and popularizing activities to raise awareness of energy-efficient glass products. To increase awareness of the benefits of Low-E double glazing amongst general consumers, we dubbed the glass "Eco-Glass," launched a dedicated NSG Group Eco-Glass Web site, and are continuing to develop other activities to increase usage and application.
As building energy efficiency becomes a higher priority for European countries, EU Directives such as the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive will stipulate the use of Low-E glazing. Accordingly, the diffusion of high thermal insulating glass to meet increased energy efficiency needs of buildings and homes is an urgent matter.
Eco-Glass Web site (Japanese)
As a leader in the glass manufacturing industry, the NSG Group is pushing for greater building energy efficiency.
To quantify this, if all single glazing were changed to Low-E double glazing, the effect would be a reduction in energy emissions. For example, it is equivalent to 9 million tons of CO2 annually in the UK or 17 million tons in Japan. This potential effect on annual energy expenditure provides the NSG Group with plenty of reasons to promote the use of Low-E double glazing in buildings and homes worldwide.
The Group is well positioned to satisfy such widespread need, with a comprehensive line-up of energy-efficient products. These include the Pair Multi and SPACIA series in the Japan market and the Pilkington, range of energy-efficient products, including the Optitherm™ S3, Optitherm™ SN and the heavy-duty Optitherm™ SN Pro T. Pilkington K Glass™ is Pilkington’s most advanced range of Low-e double glazing products.
In Japan, the NSG Group undertakes Eco-Glass awareness activities through the Flat Glass Association of Japan, as well as by collaborating with related industries in targeting government and economic organizations to encourage the use of Eco-Glass.
In Europe, Pilkington encourages the ongoing development of such products through the Pilkington Energy Efficiency Trust (PEET) that it established to fund research designed to improve energy-efficiency in buildings.
NSG Group Eco-Glass
- Pair Multi Super (High thermal insulating double glazing)
- Sekyuo Pair (Safety thermal insulating double glazing)
- Pair Multi Low-E (Low-E double glazing)
- SPACIA ST (Vacuum glass)
- SPACIA Mamoru ST (Laminated vacuum glass)
- SPACIA 21 (Double glazing vacuum glass)
