Glass curtain walls and large windows have been popular in building design for decades.<\/p>\n

In addition to esthetic considerations, there are other important benefits. Large panels of glass bring natural light into interior spaces, reducing energy demands for artificial lighting. Offering a view of the outside world also results in measurable improvements<\/a> to the health and well-being of occupants.<\/p>\n

Glass is under attack these days. Allegations of high CO_{2 <\/sub>emissions associated with glass production and the supposed low operational carbon performance of large window units are bringing criticisms concerning the extensive use of glass which some say overshadow the benefits.<\/p>\n}

Environmental commentator Lloyd Alter has been particularly critical about the prolific use of glass. He has accused<\/a> architects of \u201claziness\u201d for \u201csimply outsourcing the design to a curtain wall supplier,\u201d and has called<\/a> glass curtain wall, \u201can esthetic as well as a thermal crime.\u201d<\/p>\n

Provocative declarations of \u201cthermal crime\u201d require examination to determine fairness and accuracy. Although glass may be overused on building exteriors in some cases, modern glazing continues to evolve, particularly as triple-glazing becomes available at more reasonable costs.<\/p>\n

Glass manufacturing and industry recycling efforts were outlined in last week\u2019s<\/a> Climate and 麻豆传媒高清ion. However, the challenge remains to calculate the level of embodied carbon in a finished glass component when so few product-specific EPDs exist.<\/p>\n

Although requiring high kiln temperatures, glass manufacturing processes actually represent low levels of CO_{2<\/sub> emissions compared to other building materials. For credible figures, we turn to France.<\/p>\n}

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