CO₂ Emissions & Low-E Double Glazing

In 2005, Glass for Europe (then known as GEPVP) published a study into the CO₂ savings potential of replacing ordinary single or double glazing with low-e glass, a form of glass for buildings which enhances heat insulation. It shows that CO₂ emissions from buildings which amount to 765 million tones of CO₂ per year in the EU 25, can be cut by 140 million tones if the current glazing was replaced by low-e double glazing.

Even taking into account the 4.6 million tones of CO₂ released per year by the architectural glass industry in its production processes to manufacture the additional glass required, the replacement of obsolete glass in old buildings and specification of energy efficient glass in all new buildings would result in a huge net benefit.

Flat glass producers therefore call for policy measures supporting the replacement of obsolete glass by low-e double glazing.