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Sustainability

Here, beauty means sustainability

It is the challenge of our time, and one that requires the best thinking of the building products industry. How do you balance a striking appearance with the comfort, functionality and energy savings that every project now requires? Guardian Glass has engineered sustainability into virtually every one of our products, increasing solar control and thermal insulation to help achieve the industry’s most stringent energy standards.

Guardian supports the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a coalition of building industry leaders who promote and create environmentally responsible structures. We are also part of the federal ENERGY STAR® program, aimed at increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Supporting your LEED strategy

LEED for New Construction is a voluntary standard for developing high-performance sustainable buildings. Using SunGuard glass can boost your LEED score in up to six categories. Guardian SunGuard® line offers the largest selection of post-temperable, sputter-coated and insulated glass in the industry. These advanced coatings only offer enhanced indoor environments while protecting the natural environment.

Eligible in 6 categories

  • Sustainable Sites
  • Integrative Process
  • Energy & Atmosphere
  • Materials & Resources
  • Indoor Environmental Quality
  • Innovation
SUNGUARD GUIDE TO LEED

Sustainable Sites

Bird Collision Deterrence

1 point

Guardian has SunGuard products tested by the American Bird Conservancy to help deter bird collisions and meet the requirements for this pilot credit.

Energy & Atmosphere

Optimize Energy Performance

Up to 19 points

Choose from 12 types of SunGuard glass. Most SunGuard glass will meet the U.S. Department of Energy’s “spectrally selective” definition: a light to solar gain (LSG) ratio of 1.25 or higher. SunGuard LSG ratios can approach 2.0. And all SunGuard products meet or exceed local and/or national energy codes.

Materials & Resources

Recycled Content: 10% - 20%

Up to 2 points

Guardian float glass may contain recycled glass, of which a small amount may be preconsumer content. Under LEED guidelines, only scrap glass brought in from other manufacturing facilities can qualify as pre-consumer, so the percentage varies depending on the location of the factory and available supply.

Materials & Resources

Regional Materials:10% - 20% extracted, processed and manufactured regionally

The primary raw material for architectural glass is silica sand. Most Guardian plants are within 500 miles of their sand supply, which reduces energy spent in transit – and can earn LEED points. Also, with our extensive network of independent Guardian Select® Fabricators, chances are excellent that there’s one within 500 miles of your project – which can contribute to the Regional Materials LEED credit.

Indoor Environmental Quality

Daylight and Views: Views for 90% of spaces

1 point

SunGuard Neutral 78/65 provides the highest visible light transmittance at 78%. SunGuard SuperNeutral 68, SNX 62/27, SuperNeutral 54 and SNX 51/23 all allow high visible light transmittance, yet are also among the highest-performing coated glass products available.

Innovation & Design Process

Innovation in Design

Up to 5 points

SunGuard products can provide energy performance that substantially exceeds energy code requirements.

Regional Priority

Regional Priority

Up to 4 points

SunGuard products can provide high transmittance of light with low solar heat gain to achieve priority credits. The glass and coatings are also manufactured at several U.S. locations and distributed through a nationwide network of fabricators which may facilitate regional sourcing.

SUSTAINABLE SITES

Bird Collision Deterrence

1 point

Guardian Glass has SunGuard products tested by the American Bird Conservancy to help deter bird collisions and meet the requirements for this pilot credit.

SUSTAINABLE SITES

Heat Island Reduction

Up to 2 points

SunGuard has 7 different coatings that have a SR of 0.33 or above. These products can be used to reflect solar energy and reduce the heat island effect.

INTEGRATIVE PROCESS

Integrative Process

1 point

Guardian offers the Building Energy Calculator as part of our comprehensive Glass Analytics suite of online tools. The Building Energy Calculator uses customized make-ups created in the Performance Calculator to compare energy cost, consumption and financial payback information based on hourly simulations of glazing options, building parameters and project location. This design tool can compare annual energy costs for a variety of exterior envelope scenarios.

MATERIALS & RESOURCES

Building Product Disclosure and Optimization - Environmental Product Declarations

Up to 2 points

Guardian led the development of an industry-wide Product Category Rule (PCR) through the Glass Association of North America. The PCR will ensure future EPDs perform to the criteria established in LEED v.4. The next step is development of the Life Cycle Assessment which is the basis for an EPD.

MATERIALS & RESOURCES

Building Product Disclosure and Optimization - Sourcing of Raw Material

Up to 2 points

Guardian float glass, including SunGuard glass, may contain recycled glass, of which a small amount may be preconsumer content. Under LEED guidelines, only scrap glass brought in from other manufacturing facilities can qualify as pre-consumer, so the percentage varies depending on the location of the factory and available supply.

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Thermal Comfort

1 point

There are several SunGuard products that are designed to optimize the SHGC and reduce glare that have a direct impact on the thermal comfort of the occupants.

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Daylight

Up to 3 points

Guardian offers a variety of SunGuard products with light transmission from 8% to more than 78% that allows designers the ability to provide ample visible light to connect the occupants to the outdoors and enhance the experience of the space.

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Quality Views

1 point

Guardian offers a variety of SunGuard products with high visible light transmission and high color rendering index providing more accurate color transmission through the glazing.

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Acoustic Performance

1 point

SunGuard products can be used with relatively high STC ratings for indoor applications while also reaching high OITC ratings for exterior applications.

INNOVATION

Innovation

Up to 5 points

SunGuard products has the ability to meet or exceed local and/or national energy code requirements. Guardian has also tested product makeups for bird collision deterrence, which is pilot credit 55.

We’ll help you build with light. And build LEED points, too.

To understand more fully how high-performance glass helps your building achieve LEED designation, read the “SunGuard Guide to LEED.”