There are over 5 million commercial and industrial buildings in the United States, annually spending

Photo courtesy of Ritter Architects and Prakash Patel.

 upwards of $202.3 billion on energy. In response to these spiraling costs, design professionals are seeking creative ways to improve the thermal performance of buildings. Lamberts channel glass has proven itself to be a sustainable and dependable solution in support of this effort.

From thermal coatings to insulation and daylighting, channel glass is a versatile tool, helping buildings achieve energy efficiency and occupant comfort, while contributing towards LEED Green Building Rating System certification. When designing with glass, architects and specifiers are increasingly relying on Bendheim Wall Systems’ Lamberts channel glass.

Lamberts channel glass is U-shaped glass manufactured in an environmentally friendly, oxygen-fired furnace and consisting of as much as 60 percent recycled glass, including up to 40 percent post-consumer content. It is also the only factory-tempered, third-party-certified channel glass. 

When energy considerations are extremely important, channel glass can be selected to enhance the building envelope. Lamberts channel glass is available with performance coatings and/or thermal insulation materials in a range of decorative textures to maximize energy performance and enhance design. Coating options include:

• Low-emissivity (low-E) coating: Applied to the inside face of the glass, low-E coating improves the U-Value by restricting the flow of heat through the glass, retaining heat in the winter and keeping the interior environment cooler in the summer.

• Azur (blue-gray): This coating enhances the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient performance of the glass and improves its shading capability.

• Solex (bronze): It reflects short-wave radiation to reduce heat retention by keeping out undesired sunlight, and is recommended for use in warmer climates.

While design professionals can select from Lamberts’ six decorative textures and a low iron glass option to satisfy aesthetic project needs, the choice of surface texture has negligible impact on heat transfer through a double-glazed wall, with one exception – Lamberts’ exclusive Prismasolar(deep-groove pyramid-shaped) texture. Its precisely chiseled pattern prismatically bends light and vision with its deep, V-cut surfaces. When installed horizontally in exterior facades, it permits a high percentage of solar radiation to pass through the glass and into the building cavity during the winter months. In the summer, this prismatic glass reflects a high percentage of the solar radiation back to the outside.

For even greater performance, a thermal insulating material (TIM) can be inserted into the cavity of a double-glazed wall system to bring the U-Value down to as low as 0.19, while still allowing good light transmission of as much as 48 percent. TIMs often used with channel glass include fiberglass and fabric covered acrylic tubes.

Channel glass can admit and distribute large amounts of natural light into a building. Numerous studies have found multiple benefits of daylighting: from increased productivity and occupant comfort in the workplace to enhanced healing and recovery in healthcare settings. Ideal for both exterior and interior applications, channel glass walls and partitions bring natural light and views to building occupants and distribute light within to create a connection between interior spaces and the outdoors. The structural properties of channel glass permit much taller openings than the ones achieved with conventional flat glass, allowing maximum daylight to enter the interiors. The benefit is lower daytime lighting costs for building managers.

As a result of Lamberts channel glass’ ability to deliver enhanced thermal performance and daylighting, as well as its high recycled content; it may contribute points in these LEED categories:

• Energy and Atmosphere, Credit 1 “Optimize Energy Performance”
• Materials and Resources, Credit 4 “Recycled Content”
• Indoor Environmental Quality, Credit 7.1 “Thermal Comfort – Design”
• Indoor Environmental Quality, Credit 8.1 and 8.2 “Daylight & Views”

Many design professionals take advantage of channel glass’ full gamut of benefits – from optimal aesthetics and high-design appearance to superior thermal performance, daylighting, and sustainability.To learn more about Bendheim Wall Systems’ and Lamberts channel glass, visit www.bendheimwall.com.