The revolution in glazings that
began in the early 1980s has given
designers of low-energy-use buildings a
much wider set of options. By choosing
the appropriate type of glass, we
can determine a window's solar heat
gain and transmission of visible light,
as well as its ability to block heat loss.
But to gain the greatest advantage at a
practical cost, the designer must
choose and apply the modern glazings
thoughtfully. Here's an example from
one of my recent jobs.
Superglass to the Rescue
Superglass, a trademark of Southwall
Technologies (1029 Corporate Way,
Palo Alto, CA 94303; 800/365-8794),
has the highest insulating value of any
readily available glazing: R-9 in a 1-
inch-thick assembly using 1/8-inchthick
glass, or a 11/8-inch-thick
assembly