Consumables
PPG enhances environmental performance of solar decathlon house
Friday 04. January 2008 - Environmentally responsible glass and paint add to energy efficiency
Carnegie Mellon Universitys entry in the 2007 Solar Decathlon featured the latest in solar power technology, but that was not the projects only environmental highlight.
Students also enhanced the environmental profile of their home by using low-emissivity, solar-control glass from PPG and environmentally responsible paints and stains from Pittsburgh Paints.
Windows made with Solarban 70XL glass by PPG not only gave the home a bright, sunlit interior, they also helped reduce the cooling load on the sun-powered air conditioning system. Engineered with a proprietary coating, Solarban 70XL glass represents the highest-performing solar-control residential glass. It blocks more than 70 percent of the suns heat energy while transmitting 64 percent of its natural light. That improved the eco-effectiveness of Carnegie Mellons home in two ways: first, by reducing the amount of energy needed to cool the home, and second, by limiting its reliance on artificial lighting.
The home also featured environmentally advanced paints and stains. Interior walls were coated with Pure Performance paint from Pittsburgh Paints, which emits zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It was the first high-quality interior latex paint to receive Class A certification from Green Seal, a rigorous standard-setting organization for environmentally responsible products.
The Green Seal certification means that, in addition to eliminating VOCs, Pure Performance paint meets strict environmental requirements for energy use, chemical composition, package design and other life-cycle considerations. It also complies with painter-friendly performance criteria for scrubbability, hiding power and washability.
Outside the home, low-VOC Sun-Proof exterior stains and sealers from Pittsburgh Paints were used to finish its distinctive wood deck and siding.
The Solar Decathlon, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, is a biennial event that joins 20 college and university teams in a competition to design, build and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered house. The 2007 event took place Oct. 12-20 on the National Mall.
