Glass half full
( Glass facades, glass windows, glass panels )

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By Nidhi Adlakha: Glass facades, glass windows, glass panels… the creative use of glass in construction has become a hot trend with many Indian architects. Although glass adds to the aesthetic appeal of a structure, it has serious drawbacks that are often not considered.

One of the most obvious drawbacks of a glass façade is that it traps heat. Shankar Narayanan Seshan, principal architect, Blueprint Design Management, says, “Although it is common practice to use glass in construction, glass facades increase indoor temperatures and invariably the cooling load on the building air-conditioning. Cleaning glass is also labour-intensive.” The solution, he says, lies in relying on natural ventilation and light rather than air-conditioning, which is the norm today. “We need to create designs sensitive to the environment and based on site parameters such as direction of air flow,” he points out.

Further, tinted and toughened glass is non-recyclable, which is a major issue, says, Avikal Somvanshi, senior research associate, Centre for Science and Environment. “Most glass is sold as recyclable but we don’t have the infrastructure to recycle it. Manufacturing and recycling glass is a highly energy-intensive process and must be used judiciously.” Not only do glass facades trap heat, they also bring in glare. “People are forced to use blinds to avoid the glare and end up using artificial light during the day, further increasing energy consumption,” adds Avikal.

Read the full article from The Hindu

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