Why is Glass Considered Green
In today's age and times, glass is proving to be the go-to green material for buildings looking to be energy-efficient. Not only is it aesthetically appealing, but also functionally superior with a host of advantages to offer. With buildings contributing to nearly 40% of the total Greenhouse Gas emissions, it becomes more imperative to endorse eco-friendly materials. With its ability to be reused, recycled and renewed, glass is ideally suited to green architecture.
Benefits of Glass
Recyclable
Any material that claims to be green should be able to be recycled. Glass is a recyclable building material and helps preserve the ecosystem even while ensuring greater savings.
Energy-efficient 
Savings on electricity bills are a natural corollary, with glass capable of reducing nearly 35% of energy consumption of a building.
Bright
Glass lets in plenty of natural daylight, that keeps the indoors well-lit and also negates the need for artificial lighting during the day.
Transparent
With its attribute of transparency, glass helps in creating a productive as well as healthy environment.
Acoustic
Double-glazed glass facades have excellent noise insulation properties that seal out external sound distractions and create a more pleasant and productive environment.
Profitable
Over a long term, glass gives a healthy return on investment, with savings in terms of energy, natural and human resources.
Resource-efficient 
Glass contributes greatly to water conservation as even its manufacturing process needs a very nominal amount of water.
Reflective Glass Vs Ordinary Glass
| Ordinary Glass | Reflective Glass |
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Rising energy costs accompanied by occupant discomfort, are the result of ordinary glass that allows almost 80% light, heat and ultraviolet radiation. |
Reduction in the use of artificial lighting and therefore a decrease in electricity costs, as well as increase in occupant comfort, are the result of Reflective Glass that allows natural daylight into the building. |
India's Green Building Rating Systems
India's three major rating systems are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the rating systems from Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) and the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA). Besides these, there is the Energy Consumption Building Code (ECBC) and the National Building Code (NBC), which provide guidelines on energy consumption.
A green building rating system is basically a reference tool that assesses a building's performance and its impact on the environment. It includes a stipulated set of criteria that pertain to the design, construction, and operations of green buildings. It is mandatory for all buildings in India to adhere to the given guidelines.
How Glass is essential for Green Ratings
GRIHA and Glass
GRIHA, or Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment, was developed by TERI and adopted by the Indian Government in 2007. It is a rating tool that evaluates the performance of a building against certain nationally acceptable benchmarks. It carries out both qualitative & quantitative assessment and accordingly rates a building on its energy-efficiency.
LEED and Glass
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an internationally acclaimed green building rating certification. It provides a framework for energy-efficient buildings that keep in mind occupant comfort and energy savings as well. Glass, with its green properties, can prove to be an instrumental aspect in earning the LEED rating for a building.
