PPG Industries and Pleotint, LLC, have renewed their agreement to jointly market a commercial window glass system that combines self-tinting SUNTUITIVE glass by Pleotint with SOLARBAN low-emissivity (low-e) glass by PPG to increase occupant comfort, control solar heat gain and reduce energy costs in buildings.
Introduced in 2010, self-tinting Suntuitive glass lightens and darkens in relation to the intensity of direct sunlight to optimize visual and thermal comfort, views and daylighting. Provided to the glazing industry as insulated glass form factors combined with laminated or low-e glass, Suntuitive glass blocks solar heat and ultraviolet light, and it mitigates glare to reduce the need for shades and blinds.
When paired with Solarban solar control, low-e glasses in a standard 1-inch insulating glass unit (IGU), Suntuitive glass can produce visible light transmittance (VLT) of as much as 60 percent in a clear state and solar-heat-gain coefficients (SHGCs) of as low as 0.11 in a darkened state. In addition to enhancing the comfort of building occupants, the glass system significantly reduces energy costs related to heating, cooling and lighting, which together can account for up to 70 percent of a building’s total energy consumption.
Pleotint and PPG established their marketing alliance in 2011. Chad Simkins, vice president, Pleotint, said it has been a productive relationship for both companies.
“Pleotint and PPG have a proud heritage of innovation,” he said. “Over the past three years, we’ve made significant strides in demonstrating to architects the value of specifying a glass system that combines world-class low-e coatings with self-tinting dynamic glass to make buildings more comfortable and sustainable.”
Glenn Miner, PPG director of construction, flat glass, said he expects Pleotint and PPG to benefit from the growing demand for dynamic glazing. “We are excited to continue our work with Pleotint on developing window systems that take full advantage of our complementary technologies. We have been able to supply window glass systems for several significant projects, and I expect that trend to accelerate as architects, window manufacturers and building owners become more educated about their benefits,” he said.
“The demands on buildings are constantly changing throughout the day, meaning our buildings live in a dynamic environment,” Simkins added. “The best way to address those dynamic stresses is with Suntuitive dynamic glass. Architects and building owners can properly address those demands with an intelligent glass product that responds to those environmental changes naturally.”
Among the recent projects to which Pleotint and PPG supplied glass systems are five Children’s Learning Adventure childcare centers in Dallas, Houston and Phoenix, and the state-of-the-art Quality 10 GDX Theater by Goodrich Quality Theaters in Saginaw, Michigan.
