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March 11, 2010  |  Login
Evaluating Glass
By Eric Corey Freed
 

You probably couldn’t imagine your home without glass. The windows and doors of your home rely on glass to let in light and provide you with the views of your yard or neighborhood. Other products, such as glass tile and lighting fixtures, make glass one of the most common materials in your home.


So how does glass stack up on the life-cycle test? Read on:

  • Where does glass come from? Glass is made from sand, specifically silica. It comes from a natural and abundant raw material. Verdict: Good.
  • What are the by-products of producing glass? The formation of glass requires heat and molten tin, which requires energy and produces some greenhouse-gas emissions in the process. Verdict: Fair.
  • How is glass delivered and installed? Unlike most other construction materials, glass is often produced locally and is available everywhere. Verdict: Good.
  • How is glass maintained and operated? Except for protection from the occasional flying baseball, glass is durable and easily maintained. It requires only simple cleaning. Verdict: Good.
  • How healthy is glass? Glass is completely inert and does not release any chemicals. It is also mold resistant, unlike other exterior materials like wood. Verdict: Good.
  • What do we do with glass after we’re done with it? Glass is one of the most commonly recycled materials on the planet. Americans recycle 20% of the glass we use. Verdict: Good.

Glass is already a very green material, but using recycled glass lessens its minimal impact further. Producing recycled glass requires less energy because the crushed recycled glass melts at a lower temperature. Recycled glass products are readily and easily available and often aren’t even advertised as recycled. The costs are the same as new glass.

 
 

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