Modern, transparent and prestigious – large glass façades are very much in vogue for office complexes and industrial buildings. Yet their use only makes sense in terms of energy savings and cost effectiveness if they also have air-conditioning functions and help the energy supply. The glass industry is therefore keen to promote the development of multifunctional windows and façade elements – an area where it has already achieved numerous promising innovations.
Architects and engineers are currently facing major challenges. In modern architecture there is an increasing demand for glass façades that add brightness and which make the building look more prestigious. According to forecasts, as many as 1.33 billion square metres of new façades will be in place by 2021. This is roughly the area of Greater London. However, there is a problem: During the summer months, in particular, a building encased in glass needs a lot of energy to keep the inside temperature at a reasonable level. Air conditioners are dreadful energy guzzlers and largely responsible for buildings producing around 40 per cent of all carbon emissions in the industrialised countries.
