SAVING ENERGY Flat glass, invisible yet essential

Flat glass is a fundamental part of insulation. As the world leader in coated glass, Saint-Gobain is continuously improving its products’ performance. The insulation qualities of double or triple glazing are comparable to those of protective walls. And because glass is transparent, it helps heat the house by letting in the sun. Solar control glass also helps to reduce energy consumption in air-conditioned buildings.


Double glazing made with advanced insulation SGG PLANITHERM ONE from Saint-Gobain Glass is three times more effective than standard double glazing and six times more effective than single glazing. Thanks to its low-emittance (Low-E) coating, SGG PLANITHERM ONE double glazing reflects 99% of interior heat back into the room. At the same time, it lets in 71% of visible light and 49% of solar heat, for the best energy
efficiency performance in Europe. A study by the Glass for Europe association underlines that replacing every window in the 27-member European Union with advanced, low-E double glazing would cut CO2 emissions by up to 90 million metric tons annually–equivalent to one third of the European Union’s greenhouse gas emissions target for buildings.

Bioclean: SGG Bioclean® self-cleaning glass from Saint-Gobain makes window washing easier and reduces water use. Depending on the type of house and number of windows, the water savings for a home equipped with SGG Bioclean® can range from 4,500 to 16,000 liters over an average 60-year lifetime. This corresponds to 30 to 100 days of drinking water for an average European.


THE WINDOWSOF THE FUTURE: As the world leader in coated glass, Saint-Gobain is continuously working on more energy efficient products to deliver even better performance. To give an example, the triple glazing developed by our teams insulates seven times more efficiently than conventional double glazing and lets in the same amount of heat from the sun as advanced Low-E double glazing. At the same time, it lets in 74% of visible light for maximum clarity–almost the same amount as double glazing. Saint-Gobain has also developed electrochromic glass that actively adapts to seasonal changes. By limiting the sun’s impact in the summer and maximizing it in the winter, this glass helps cut down on air conditioning and heating needs while delivering enhanced visual comfort and preserving the building’s architectural style.