Carbon footprint of facades: significance of glass

Glass and glazing units have an important role to play in the reduction of whole-life carbon across the built environment. Façade design decisions must consider the embodied carbon impacts associated with the production, installation and replacement of façades as well as the operational carbon impacts of these choices.

Together with ARUP, we have made a key study to understand the role of glass within the whole life-cycle carbon emissions of the façade system.

The results of this important work are an essential building block in bringing understanding and visibility, to the topics of both embodied and operational carbon. They guide us in the way to develop our low-carbon glass offer, for more sustainable and comfortable façades of buildings in the future.