Conventional and Advanced Glazing Technologies for Enhancing Thermal and Lighting Performance

Abstract

Glass is one of the oldest man-made material that is widely used in architecture. As it is a translucent material, it permits a full penetration of direct sunlight but may also increase the internal space temperature and then increasing cooling loads and energy consumption. As the need for energy optimization is very important and glazing is considered a weak point in any building, the selection of glazing assumes tremendous significance. This paper reviews the different types of glazing which can be categorized into conventional and advanced to optimize the thermal and the lighting performance according to their properties and insulation values. Conventional glazing includes the clear glazing whether it is single double or triple, the tinted glazing, the reflective glazing, and the low-E glazing. Advanced glazing which is mainly the insulated glazing unit such as the gas filled glazing, the vacuum glazing, the aerogel glazing and the phase change material glazing.