I had the good fortune 15 years ago to visit a float glass factory in Toledo and watch this process in person. The real revolution came in the 1950s with the development of float glass, in which molten glass is poured out on a bed of molten tin. Polished plate glass, developed perhaps 100 years ago, provided better visibility, but was very expensive.
![plate glass windows r value plate glass windows r value](https://energuardwindows.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/comfort-egs3-1.jpg)
The hand-blown and rolled glass distorts the view. Transparency and optical clarityWhile the small-lite (twelve-over-twelve) windows in our 1780s home are certainly attractive-and treasured-they don't provide a great view to the outdoors. I'll highlight a few of the most important features below. They do it through some ingenious technologies and design features. SUPPORT INDEPENDENT SUSTAINABILITY REPORTINGīuildingGreen relies on our premium members, not on advertisers. Some windows also have to allow egress (escape from the house) in the event of fire.Īll this, while being durable to the elements, long-lasting, low-maintenance, attractive, and-yes-affordable. Windows often have to accommodate screens to keep out insects and other attachments to block sunlight or further reduce heat loss. Windows are usually expected to provide ventilation by allowing us to open them to channel fresh air into our homes-yet, we also want the same windows to be airtight when closed to keep out those cold winter drafts. Yet, in warmer climates-and often on the west and east sides of our houses in more northern climates-we want windows to block the entry of unwanted solar gain. On the south side of our homes, especially in colder climates, windows are often expected to transmit beneficial solar heat, helping keep us warm. They block the escape of heat and prevent condensation on the glass. This focus has reminded me just how much we expect of our windows and what an amazing job they do.įirst, let's look at everything that windows are expected to do: They provide us with views to the outdoors-whether of drifting snow on a frigid winter morning or kids playing in the backyard in mid-summer.
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I've been working for the past couple weeks on a report on windows-the latest in BuildingGreen's series of special reports on green building (the last one covering insulation). Having developed both fiberglass and fiberglass-reinforced uPVC windows around high performance building needs, Alpen HPP is quickly becoming a favorite supplier among architects and Passive House consultants who appreciate domestically-produced windows of superior quality, performance and innovation.This Marvin Tri-pane window has three panes of glass, creating two dead air spaces. Also in 2017, Alpen teamed with ThermalBuck to create an amazing PHIUS-verified window installation detail.Īlpen HPP has been a pioneer and industry leader in manufacturing super-high performance insulated glass products since 1981, and award-winning windows since 2008. In 2017, Alpen became the first North American window manufacturer to achieve dual certification from both PHIUS and PHI.
![plate glass windows r value plate glass windows r value](https://www.windows24.com/i/uw-values/glazing-construction-and-functionality.jpg)
The results exceeded even our own expectations built around previously certified NFRC performance values.
![plate glass windows r value plate glass windows r value](https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0378778820333739-ga1.jpg)
window manufacturer to receive Passive House US (PHIUS) Heating climate zone accreditation. With this in mind, in 2013, Alpen High Performance Products became the first U.S. Window manufacturers like Colorado-based Alpen High Performance Products recognize that supporting the Passive House movement requires dual focus on producing windows of superior quality and performance and making accurate, third-party verified performance data for their products readily available for use in Passive House design software. Because windows play an important role in each of these four critical categories, window selection is often a major part of the Passive House design discussion.
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To achieve this high level of energy efficiency, Passive House designers carefully evaluate how to assemble the building envelope to achieve optimal performance in four key areas: superinsulation, air-sealing, passive heating (solar gain) and effective ventilation.
![plate glass windows r value plate glass windows r value](https://aerosealcorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/New-Construction-Windows.jpg)
The Passive House design approach takes advantage of material performance characteristics to create a building structure that needs very little supplemental heating or cooling to provide year-round occupant comfort, dramatically reducing the home’s annual energy consumption.