Indirect gain: What is it? In the previous blog, we spoke about the benefits and principles of direct gain. However, passive solar design is not limited to it. Indirect gain is just another element of the passive solar design game, and we at Mesa Glass are willing to tell more about its benefits and strengths. Unlike direct gain windows, where energy from the sun comes directly through the window and is absorbed by the interior constructions, such as floors or walls, indirect gain windows operate through an energy storage located between them and the interior. For example, many specialists in the glass industry use a Trombe wall consisting of a 8-16 inch masonry material, always on the southern side of the house. This is critical, since most sunlight energy comes from the south. This is why we always tell our customers that, when designing their homes and windows, they should be extremely considerate with the choice of the location, climate, and home design. Using a masonry wall on the south side of the house is a good solution to many energy problems that emerge on a daily basis. With a Trombe wall on the southern side of your house, you will have a dark surface absorbing the sunlight and a mass of wall material keeping this energy to get it back into the living space, when there is no sun.

One of the major benefits of indirect gain windows is that the mason wall used in it releases the energy from the sun several hours. However, we at Mesa Glass cannot ignore the fact that indirect gain windows are difficult to manage in home and business buildings that have been completed. Certainly, indirect gain windows and walls present a perfect solution to many energy problems, but only at the stage of design. This is why we recommend that our glass professionals and your construction agents work together to create a perfect home for you!

Gilbert Glass professionals do not simply provide customers with superior quality products but also seek to fit themselves in the latest sustainable development trends. This is one of the main reasons why we are so attentive to the materials and quality of work provided to customers. This is also why we familiarize ourselves with the potential benefits and risks of new construction and design materials. In this blog, we want to discuss the importance of volatile organic contents and their implications for sustainable development in the glass industry. Like any other industrial manufacturing field, the glass industry uses complex chemical compounds to produce sophisticated and functional glass products. Volatile chemical compounds represent an important stage in the development of new glass products, but we at Gilbert Glass should understand that VOC have both positive and negative sides.

No, that certainly does not mean that VOC are necessarily dangerous! Also, that does not mean that all glass products are unfriendly to the environment. It is nothing but pure chemistry, and our glass products meet all standards of quality and safety. The topic of VOC is important mainly because it provides a better understanding to consumers of the glass products they buy and use in their homes and businesses. Today?s manufacturers use complex methodologies to determine and disclose the VOC in their products. Basically, they heat their products and evaporate all volatile contents. Then they weight the product and measure the difference. The amount of VOC is usually expressed as the number of grams per Liter of the substance (g/L). If you need more information about the way glass products are manufactured and whether they meet the basic safety regulations, please, ask Gilbert Glass. We are ready to inform you about everything that interests you in the glass market.

Energy efficiency is one of the top priorities in glass manufacturing. Much has been written and said about the role which energy efficiency can play in the evolution of the entire glass industry. However, many glass manufacturers, especially in the developing world, lag behind their developed partners. They face considerable difficulties in their way to adopting energy-efficient technologies and systems. Just a month ago, specialists at Home glass repair Chandler learned that all commercial buildings owners in San Francisco would have to send their annual energy costs/ benchmarks, in order to comply with the Existing Commercial Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance. In other words, all owners of commercial buildings in San Francisco would have to report the amount of energy they use during one calendar year, as part of their compliance with the city?s energy efficiency requirements. The goal of the proposed change is to promote greater accountability and efficiency of energy use in commercial organizations. The new requirement is actually a form of regular audit for all owners of commercial buildings which, as expected, will motivate these owners to become more efficient in their energy uses.

In reality, the goal of the proposed mandatory energy audits is much more complicated and far-reaching. The city authorities expect that mandatory audits would boost the use of energy-efficient glass in commercial buildings. Home glass repair Chandler believes that it is a good incentive for buildings larger than 10,000 square meters to take advantage of energy-efficient glass. Certainly, the costs of using energy-efficient glass cannot be totally disregarded, and most commercial buildings owners will, most probably, argue against the new requirement. However, in the era of sustainability and environmental protection, energy-efficient glass can become a productive long-term measure aimed at reducing the costs of energy and the damages caused to the environment.

Metallic glasses ? what are they? Do you think that metallic glasses are those made of specially designed metallic materials, or do you think that metallic glasses are a new trend in fashion? Neither of these ideas is correct. In reality, the metallic glass material has more to do with glass and electrical devices manufacturing than with fashion. Metallic glasses are relatively new but extremely functional and potentially useful element of the electric transformer production business. Home glass repair Chandler believes that it is high time to shed some light on the novelty and usefulness of new materials that are produced by glass manufacturers and do have the potential to become one of the main elements in the major production systems.

Metallic glasses are gaining increased popularity as part of numerous electrical transformer cores. They can be used in structures and devices that are too complex to be large. For example, nano-technologies can easily involve the use of metallic glasses. However, the most important is the fact that, just recently, researchers have found new atomic structures in metallic glasses. Based on the recent study findings, there is a complex nanometer-scale atomic structure in metallic glasses. These structures can also be present in other glass materials. Home glass repair Chandler is convinced that this information closes the gap in professional knowledge about solid materials, including glass, and can greatly contribute to the public and professional understanding of its atomic structure.

Unfortunately, glass research is a challenging endeavor, mainly because measuring the atomic structure of glass is extremely problematic. Besides, glass is a solid material that has a non-crystalline atomic structure. Therefore, before the researchers proceed with the analysis of solid atomic structures in glass, it is imperative that they develop more sophisticated measures and systems, to understand the mechanism of atomic bonding in complex materials like glass.

When you are building a new house for your family, you certainly want the best for yourself. This is why you ask questions and seek professional answers. The question of glass is no exception, as you want to know what types of glass, windows, and doors will best suit your needs. We at Gilbert Glass often get calls from our current and prospective customers, who want to know the difference between transparent and opaque glass, as well as the benefits and weaknesses of both. This is why we decided to devote some time to the discussion of these issues.

In order to understand how opaque glass differs from transparent glass you should first learn the principles of glass physics. We have already talked about conduction, and here we must turn our heads to convection. The latter is the way heat moves through gases and liquids. For example, warm air is usually above the air which is cooler: this is one of the basic laws of physics you learn at school. Likewise, heat moves through the window glass, and professionals at Gilbert Glass know that the quality of windows and your comfort at home greatly depends on the way glass transmits heat. This is where the difference between transparent and opaque windows comes into play.

All opaque objects, including glass, do not transmit more than 50 percent of heat and light. Some opaque objects absorb as much as 95 percent of energy and solar radiation. The darker the opaque glass window the more solar radiation it will absorb. So, if you are looking for a sun-absorbing window, use dark opaque glass that will leave all solar energy beyond your premises. For example, in industrial manufacturing units opaque glass can become a real savior and a perfect protection against overheating.

By contrast, transparent glass absorbs only 10 percent of solar radiation, transmitting the rest into the house. Once transmitted, this solar radiation is re-transmitted again by the interior surfaces in the form of infrared radiation. Yet, transparent windows are the best solution for homes, and you can choose among different energy-efficient varieties of glass, to meet your comfort demands. Gilbert Glass is always at your disposal!