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Sustainability In Glass Houses: Reducing Energy Costs in the Summer

Of the many things that are happening during the summer season, we can all agree that summer is a season of long-running air conditioning and constant wash cycles of clothes and other summer clothing because of summer getaways here and there. Here in the Philippines where the summer heat is very humid, you could not help but use all energy available in order to cool down the temperature. During the summer, it is a natural inclination of many to hide under the carpet the reality of their electric bills just to get rid of the summer heat. Well, we cannot blame them, especially if you find the summer heat too uncomfortable and all you want is to relax.

On the other hand, we know that you want to reduce energy costs during the summer season and you want a remedy that has nothing to do with removing away from you the comforts of making yourself comfortable while at the same time enjoying all the things that the summer season has to offer. Well, fret no more because if you are the homeowner who wants to step up his game, consider the glass houses which you can not only have as a vacation home but a permanent home because of the perks that come alongside it.

Sustainability in glass houses: What is the most sustainable glass for buildings?

One of the most pressing dilemmas when living under the summer heat is the reality that the reason for such heightened heat is the presence of global warming and other ecological problems. This now leads to innovation and usage of eco-friendly materials that will lessen the effects of the same. This includes the efforts of property developers and the change in the mindset of many homeowners to use and incorporate sustainable materials when constructing buildings and houses. A good example of this is the rise of green buildings and eco-friendly houses that are known for being energy efficient. Now, if you at a position of wanting to make a crucial environmental change while at the same time making yourself comfortable during the summer season, using sustainable glass for your home is one of your best investments.

Sustainable Design for House Glasses

The usage of glass in the architecture of buildings and even houses is not new to many. This means that many developers have been using glass as the major component or material during construction. This is due to the fact that glass is considered an excellent green material that can help the building to be more energy efficient and eco-friendly. Types of glasses such as solar control glasses and lows-e glasses are often used for this kind of building and house construction. These glasses are known for reflecting heat or UV rays to maintain the room temperature of the building. Having said that using these types of glasses will surely reduce your energy cost as you do not have to maintain long-running air conditioning to keep a cooler temperature.

For this article, we are going to give you some of the most sustainable designs for house glasses that will help you to reduce energy costs as well as conserve natural resources during the summer season.

Incorporate self-adaptive glass for your windows

One of the most popular innovations in architecture right now is a material that a group of scientists from Nanyang Technological University have invented. It is called a self-adaptive glass that uses a specialized type of window coating where it exploits the spectrum of light responsible for heating and cooling. This means that during the cold season, the glass suppresses the heat loss which results in warming the entire room. And of course, during the summer season, the glass does the opposite thing where it suppresses the heat and boosts the radiative cooling which makes the room temperature cooler. This is a new development so expect it to be costly but it is worth the investment considering the high level of humidity and temperature during the summer season in the country.

Use low e glass for your doors

Low Emissivity Glass or also known as low e glass is a type of glass that has a coating applied to it making the doors or even the windows energy efficient. This type of glass is known for its colorless, non-toxic, ultra-thin coating that minimizes how much UV rays can pass through. For the benefit of homeowners who are thinking of incorporating this sustainable design, aside from the energy efficiency, this type of glass also improves the lighting in your house without having to increase your cooling and heating costs. Moreover, its cost is not far from the regular glass that you use on your windows and doors so that makes it a worthwhile investment.

Use solar control glass for major rooms in your home

If there is another decorative glass you can install in a house glass that would be solar control glass. Also known as reflective glass, this type of glass is considered to be a great remedy for maintaining the optical temperature inside a living space, especially during the summer season. A solar control glass is a double or triple-glazed glass with a metal oxide coating on the inner face of the external glass unit. This coating is capable of reflecting the maximum UV rays including unbearable heat which allows the natural light to pass through. Aside from this, the solar control glass is known for maintaining more natural light and a pleasant and refreshing indoor environment for your living space. Now, if you are thinking about the cost of solar control glass, the good news is it is comparatively similar but of course with an increased amount than the regular glass. Moreover, when you invest in solar control glass, you can do various interior projects with it by keeping your project cost minimum. Besides, the operation cost or the installment of solar control glass is also at a minimum cost.

Use solar control glass for major rooms in your home

Sustainability in glass houses: Conclusion

With a heat index as high as more than 40 degrees Celcius, it is also deemed necessary to avoid getting health-related sicknesses and make ourselves comfortable by beating the heat but in such a way that will not cost us so much. Given all the types of glasses that you can use for a sustainable design for your homes, it is no longer an impossibility to achieve an energy-efficient home. And if you are thinking of starting your own house glass, consider the types of glasses mentioned so you won’t have to waste your time looking for what is an excellent material to use.

Furthermore, the benefits also come in such a way that you are encouraged to make the most of the natural resources around you. With house glass with built-in green glasses, you can make the most of the natural light exposure which will make you appreciate the scorching sun as compared to having regular glass that may distribute the natural light in many parts of your living space which can cause unbearable temperature. Being introduced to these types of glass will make you realize that it’s all about control and taking advantage of which materials are available so you can make the most sustainable designs.