Global warming and climate change are becoming increasingly common concerns in construction and architecture, with many companies looking for ways to make residential buildings more sustainable.
A sustainable building minimises energy consumption, uses recyclable materials and proper insulation, and prioritises the happiness of the people inside.
Glass is a versatile, affordable and recyclable building material, making it a perfect choice when building an environmentally-friendly home. With this in mind, we have shared just a few ways glass can be applied to transform your home:
Increase the amount of natural light
Adding more windows to architectural design will reduce the need for electrical lighting and let in plenty of natural light. Adding skylights to kitchen or bathroom ceilings is an effective way to enhance brightness and make a room feel larger; our toughened glass is perfect for this strong and long-lasting application.
If you are working on a small budget project, you can enhance the light in rooms by considering window and room placement. Assuming your location is in the Northern Hemisphere, you’ll want the majority of windows and living spaces, such as the living room and kitchen, to face south to capture winter sunlight.
Less used areas such as a garage or utility area are better suited to the north-facing side as the lack of windows will reduce the amount of heat loss, and the rooms themselves will act as a natural defence against the cold.
Choose insulated glass on windows and doors to cut heating costs
Double-glazed units will retain heat in any building by reducing draughts and heat loss through windows and doors. They also increase the safety of your home by delivering a more rigid material. So, it will be less likely that you will need to replace the glass in the long run, which is excellent for the environment!
Furthermore, according to a report from the University of Sussex, double-glazing provides one of the most significant carbon savings.
In fact, if all residential properties were to install double-glazing, it could save the UK up to 20.3 TWh of fuel per year. Assuming the heat saved is generated from natural gas, the savings would amount to 3.76 million tonnes of CO2 annually – around 1.2% of the nation’s total annual carbon emissions.
Install glass features throughout the interior design
With our capabilities in flat and curved glass manufacturing, providing heat-strengthened, toughened, and laminated glass, architects are able to include structural glass of many forms in home design.
From glass walls and floors to staircases and balustrading, these internal fittings offer a series of unique benefits, including sustainability. The applications look sleek and will make your home more sustainable as glass is a 100% recyclable building material.
For example, undergoing a considerable renovation, we were contracted to supply 21.5mm Toughened Laminated (average size) 1800mm x 1100mm curved and flat glass panels for an elegant sustainable stairway that would create a wow factor for those who visit the property.
The toughened glass panels were used to create glass balustrading, which opened the hallway and staircase, making it more inviting, less bulky, and intrusive.
Use tinted glass
Tinted glass is created by incorporating thicker colour pigments into the ingredients during the manufacturing process, limiting the amount of light that can enter while absorbing heat.
Adding a darker colour to windows will increase privacy for homeowners by stopping any nosy neighbours from looking in and helping curb potential intruders from spotting anything valuable.
This type of glass is also perfect for greenhouses or a unique addition to conservatories.
Other ways to create a sustainable home
As well as structural glass applications, there are alternative ways you can choose to be kind to the environment. For example, you can upcycle old furniture into a more modern design which reuses perfectly usable items and reduces the amount of furniture going to landfills. You should also consider installing eco-friendly appliances to reduce the carbon footprint of those who purchase the home.
How can Specialist Glass Products help you with residential design?
Are you looking to incorporate structural glass into your next project? At SGP, our capabilities are endless. We can supply triple-glazed, jumbo flat glass, curved double glazing, toughened curved glass, and much more.
Check out some of our previous projects for more inspiration, or contact our team to learn more about our wide range of glass solutions to meet your design needs.
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