- [Feature Article 2] Global Energy Saving through Ecoglass
- [Feature Article 1-1] Developing Technology for a Bright Future-Technology Outlook
- [Feature Article 1-2] Developing Technology for a Bright Future-Tackling the Challenge Against Global Warming
- [Feature Article 2] Global Energy Saving through Ecoglass
- [Feature Article 3] Arsenic- and Antimony-Free Glass for Liquid Crystal Displays and Hard Disk Drive
- [Feature Article 4] Creating a Safe, Secure, Comfortable and Environmentally Friendly World with Chemical Technology
- Environmental Products
Feature Article 2 For a Comfortable and Environmentally Friendly Lifestyle Global Energy Saving through Ecoglass
Leading a comfortable life while minimizing the use of energy for cooling and heating—more and more people across the world are choosing this type of lifestyle, and Ecoglass, with its excellent thermal insulation performance, is supporting them in leading such an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Asahi Glass started the production of double-glazing glass, effective in energy saving, in 1954, and the new product it released in 1993 was adopted by a major house manufacturer, leading to the expansion of the use of Ecoglass across the country. To promote the use of Ecoglass, the Flat Glass Manufacturers Association of Japan*1 has been conducting an Ecoglass Campaign since 2006. As a member of the Association, the AGC Group is contributing to global energy saving by promoting the use of Ecoglass in Japan and publicizing its effectiveness in China and Southeast Asia.
*1 |
Asahi Glass and two other Japanese flat glass manufacturers together comprise the Flat Glass Manufacturers Association of
Japan. Ecoglass is the trade name for low-emissive double-glazing glass products approved by the Association. |
Contributing to the Environment with Excellent Thermal Insulation Performance
Ecoglass, which is low-emissive glass with a dry air layer sealed between two sheets of glass, has higher thermal insulation performance than ordinary double-glazing glass. The glass can satisfy the Next-Generation Energy Conservation Standard established by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, with only a lace curtain drawn across the window.
Structure of Ecoglass Sunbalance
World Trend of Window Glass
In Germany, where advanced environmental regulations have
been implemented, it is prohibited to use single sheet glass for
new house windows. In Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Austria,
double-glazing glass is used for 100% of both new and existing
houses. In the United States, the usage rate of energy-saving
glass*2 was 48% for both new and existing houses, as of 2001.
In Japan, energy-saving glass was used for as many as 90% of
new houses in 2006, but the usage rate of energy-saving glass for
existing houses and office buildings is far lower than in Europe.
The AGC Group has already established a system for supplying
energy-saving glass to the Japanese, European, and North
American markets. In addition, we are establishing a manufacturing
system for energy-saving glass in China, a country where societal
environmental awareness is rapidly increasing.
*2 Energy-saving glass here includes Ecoglass, general double-glazing glass, and lowemissive
single glass. |
Environmental and Economical Effects of Ecoglass
You can save energy by replacing window glass with Ecoglass, which remarkably helps improve cooling and heating efficiency. For example, if you replace the window glass of a house in Tokyo with Ecoglass, in 10 years you can reduce CO2 emissions by an amount equivalent to that achieved by planting 250 beech trees as well as saving approximately 500,000 yen in cooling and heating costs.
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Although the production of Ecoglass causes more environmental impact than the production of single sheets of glass for windows, the impact will be offset by the energy-saving effect achieved by the use of the glass: the total environmental impact caused by Ecoglass will fall below the impact of single sheets of glass after Ecoglass has been used for one year and eight months.
CO2 Emissions from One-Storied Houses Using Single Glass and Ecoglass (in Tokyo)
Promoting the Development and Use of Energy-Saving Automotive Glass
Coolverre is an automotive glass that blocks ultraviolet rays (UV) and infrared rays (IR). As its biggest feature, it can substantially block middle infrared rays, which mostly cause the skin to sense frizzling heat. As a result, drivers feel cooler inside the vehicle, and this in turn leads to a reduction in energy consumption by air conditioning. Through the use of Coolverre, the in-vehicle temperature can be reduced by 2 to 3ºC. We have been actively conducting sales promotion activities for the glass. For example, we provided motor journalists with the opportunity to actually experience the effect of the glass when we released it in 2004 and have advertised the product targeting general consumers.
Comparison between normal windshield and Coolverre
