Energy-Efficient Products, Advanced Glazing Headline AIA

The American Institute of Architects' (AIA) Expo in Washington, D.C., has seen a surge in the newest types of glass products available--from decorative to technologically advanced--along with a focus on the latest energy-efficient products.

Pulp Studio is showing its new Ombra insulating glass units, developed for exterior glazing applications. The product is available with either a UV-stabilized honeycomb core or an architectural wire mesh, both of which are designed for shading performance.

"It seems pretty popular," said Pulp representative Patrick Ripple.

PPG Industries displayed its SunClean low-maintenance glass, among several other launches, which has been available to the residential market for some time but now has been released for the commercial arena as well. The company also featured its Suntuitive product, developed through a partnership with Pleotint, which adapts shading based on the temperature.

"Architects want better performance and aesthetics," said PPG representative Joanne Funyak.

Guardian Industries is displaying several energy-efficient products, including its SunGuard photovoltaic glass units, developed in conjunction with Pythagoras Solar, and Soladigm dynamic glass.

"This is a really cool thing that everyone's been waiting for," said Jim Pape of Soladigm, who was on-hand in Guardian's booth in light of the recently announced

Following the advanced glazing trend, Cristacurva is promoting its Adapt-E-Glass, which changes from light to dark automatically based on the temperature of the glass.

CPI Daylighting Inc. is featuring its Intela-Sun-Controlled Daylighting system, which is ideal for commercial, institutional and military installations, according to Ted Bratton, the company's East Coast sales representative.

"You set your light level, and it monitors and adjusts automatically," said Bratton.

JE Berkowitz displayed its Renovate window retrofit system, which uses an interior glazing method of hermetically sealing a factory-made insulating glass unit to the existing monolithic glass window with a warm-edge triseal spacer.

Bob Price, director of sales and marketing for the company, spoke to USGNN/USGlass magazine both about the launch of the system and what he's hearing from architects.

"They want to see stuff that's creative, innovative and cutting-edge and makes buildings more appealing to their tenants," he said.