Portland International Airport The RATe equation accounts for 100 percent of solar energy, which is equal to the sum of solar reflectance, absorption, and transmittance. Adding an energy-controlling, or low-e, coating to a laminated or insulating laminated unit can provide significant energy-consumption savings, and the upgrade often rapidly pays for itself. For example, consider a project incorporating 5,000 square feet of glass in Miami, Florida. If the architects originally specified one-half-inch clear laminated glass, the estimated payback period would be the following: Original Glass Composition Alternate Upgraded Glass Composition Location Estimated Payback Period ½- clear laminated ½- clear laminated ½- standard low-e laminate 1-¼" insulating laminate with hybrid low-e #2 Miami, FL Miami, FL 1.6 years 30. years The insulating laminated unit would also offer the added benefits of a lower U-Value than the originally specified glass. Twin Lakes Park Office Complex, Sarasota, Florida. Architect: Carlson Studio Architecture. Photographer: Dick Dickinson. This LEED-certified complex uses insulating laminated glazing units with low-e coatings to allow maximum daylighting, minimize energy consumption, and provide hurricane protection.

LEED Categories

The U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System® was formed to create a consistent green building rating system and a uniform sustainability building standard. Its goal is to raise awareness and use of green building methods, by outlining ways to achieve green building points and ratings. Laminated glass contributes to several LEED categories, including Energy and Atmospheric, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality.