Latest news from Durable 2: Glazing Health & Safety

Energy loss & carbon footprint for Hospitals

10 April 2008

There are a lot of windows in most hospitals and glass is a pro material when it comes to allowing heat and cold through. Much is written about heat loss in winter but the situation in summer needs serious attention.

Left: Windows contribute to a building’s carbon footprint – yet there is a simple remedy available.

Windows are a major energy issue throughout the year. In summer about 90% of sunlight travels through glass in windows causing problems with glare on screens and heat gain. The temperature inside buildings increases and people switch on cooling devices, which wastes energy.

People close blinds to avoid the sun’s direct heat. However, though closing blinds takes away the sensation, the heat is still entering the room and internal temperatures will rise. According to the Building Research Establishment (BRE) solar gains in a glazed building can account for ten times the heat generated by equipment or lighting.

Very often when blinds are closed, supplementary lighting is switched on which uses energy and adds to the building’s carbon footprint.

The net result is high levels of energy are used in summer with a negative affect on carbon footprint. Ironically, a lot of this wastage could be limited by applying a very simple principle: keep the heat and glare out of the hospital in the first place. The installation of Solar Control Window Film filters out up to 75% of the heat and glare. Modern high-technology window films exist which can measurably reduce transmitted heat and glare and yet have very high levels of visible light transmission.

Window film is a convenient solution as it can be installed on selective windows with little disruption to activity. And right from the start it improves the work environment and neutralises the organisation’s carbon footprint.


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