Carbon footprint
10 April 2008
A year ago there was a lot of talk about environment, saving energy and carbon footprint. But increasingly the talk is turning into action and today companies feel they need to make their contribution.
Left: Windows contribute to a building’s carbon footprint – yet there is a simple remedy available.
A major factor in reducing emissions is glass – billions of panes of it and, as essential as it is to provide daylight, window glass is the most inefficient building material when it comes to energy loss.
Heating and cooling represents 65% of the energy consumed by buildings. A lot of focus and resource goes into improving the performance of buildings in winter with insulation, heating controls, etc. But comparatively little attention is paid to what happens in the warmer months when the sun is shining.
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. Some newer buildings have the benefit of air-conditioning which, because it derives its energy from fossil fuels, and because it is one of the least energy-efficient ways of controlling temperature, increases the building’s carbon footprint.
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. In one hour a person gives of about 8W of heat energy per square metre, similar to a computer, whereas a window representing 40% of wall space on a South facing elevation can transmit 63W of heat to a square meter of floor space.
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 using a very simple principle: Keep the heat and glare out of the building. The installation of Solar Control Window Film filters out up to 75% of the heat and glare. It 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.
Other Press Releases By This Company
- 22/12/2014 - 12 days of window film
- 27/10/2014 - The dangers from retail glazing
- 06/10/2014 - Toughened glass may not be as tough as you think
- 06/10/2014 - Guard against spontaneous breakage of glass
- 07/02/2011 - Durable offers free help on Regulation 14
- 07/02/2011 - Durable offers free help on Regulation 14
- 16/06/2010 - When it comes to windows is your organisation a carbon footprint...
- 13/05/2010 - Are you a summer carbon saint or sinner?
- 13/05/2010 - Cooler workplace for free
- 13/05/2010 - Pay-back time for FMs
- 10/04/2008 - Heat and glare
- 10/04/2008 - Heat and glare for Hospitals
- 10/04/2008 - Heat and glare for Schools
- 10/04/2008 - Energy loss & carbon footprint for Hospitals
- 10/04/2008 - Energy loss & carbon footprint for Education
- 13/03/2008 - The problems with windows
- 08/01/2008 - Found in thousands of schools but is window film being used to maximum effect? Part 3.
- 08/01/2008 - Found in thousands of schools but is window film being used to maximum effect? Part 2.
- 08/01/2008 - Found in thousands of schools but is window film being used to maximum effect? Part 1.
