ENERGY-SAVING AND ENERGY-GENERATING SOLUTIONS THAT CHAMPION A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Green buildings are becoming the new normal worldwide, especially in today’s commercial construction and high-rise residential builds. In Asia Pacific, this trend is driven by environmental mandates in countries like Singapore and rapid urbanisation in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
The reason for the popularity of Green buildings is clear. Their efficient use of water, energy, and other resources enables developers to meet evolving client demands and new environmental regulations. Businesses benefit from the resulting reduced operational costs and higher asset value. For building owners, the ability to promote sustainable practices and improve occupant health and well-being is an equally attractive incentive.
TAKING A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO SUPPORTING SUSTAINABILITY
As a founding partner in the World Green Building Council Asia Pacific Regional Network, AGC Asia Pacific (AAP) actively supports and promotes green building activities across Asia Pacific. We continue to pursue new product innovations that support sustainability and ensure our materials meet global certifications and evolving industry benchmarks. To support this, we have dedicated 51% of our R&D budget to the development of sustainable products and manufacturing solutions that contributes to savings in CO2 emissions.
As the first glass manufacturer to have products certified under the Singapore Green Building Product (SGBP) Certification Scheme, we understand the significance of these certifications and the role it plays in shaping the market. These certificate attainments provide stakeholders, architects and building designers the environmental evidence to earn credits towards green building rating systems which are commonly adopted in the Southeast Asia region. More architects are now specialising in low-energy buildings incorporating large glass glazing in their designs, further fuelling demand for green certified added-value glass products.
In addition, we understand the vital role we play in creating and maintaining a sustainable environment. Today, AGC is committed to declaring our environmental performance through Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for our glass products and do our part in contributing to a better tomorrow.
AGC Glass Asia Pacific is the first glassmaker to publish EPD for float glass manufactured at its two Asian plants, PT Asahimas Flat Glass Tbk (Indonesia) and AGC Flat Glass (Thailand) Plc. This is the first EPD attained by the AGC Group for architectural glass manufactured in the Asia Pacific region.
For more information, please see the following news release from AGC Inc.
Learn more about AGC Glass Asia Pacific sustainability approaches here.
PT Asahimas Flat Glass Tbk (Indonesia)
AGC Flat Glass (Thailand) Plc
CONTINUALLY INNOVATING FOR A BETTER FUTURE
Energy consumption is a core concern in the building sector and one that AGC is well positioned to address. Our continual pipeline of new products with improved environmental performance paves the way for sustainable construction while offering four key value propositions:
To meet dynamic market demands, we are continually developing new energy-saving products. Such innovations include magnetron coatings for façade applications with low solar factor and excellent thermal insulation.
Our mandate is to constantly push the envelope and see where existing ideas can take us. One innovation that surfaced from this future thinking is our building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) glass for external use. This energy-generating solution allows buildings to harness the power of solar energy through our architectural glass.
On average we spend 90% of our time indoors. For this reason, indoor air quality is an important health concern. To preserve indoor air quality, we have a range of environment-friendly interior glass and mirrors that emits low levels of VOCs.
Reducing operating costs is a key motivator in the transition to Green design and build. Our high durability resins and cleaner sealants are just some of the products that help keep costs low while maintaining the integrity of the architectural aesthetics and reducing the need for frequent cleaning and maintenance.
THE AGC GROUP’S ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
The AGC Group develops and supplies high value-added products and services that provide safety, security and comfort, supporting various activities worldwide through our products, technologies and other environmental initiatives. We look to the future of the global community, and will contribute to its sustainable development.
Coral Reef Restoration Project Using Polyvinyl Chloride Resin (PVC)
The decline of coral reefs has been a serious problem around the world. The AGC Group is working on the protection of valuable coral reefs in Thailand and Indonesia, by using polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Cement materials are often used as a foundation to promote the growth of coral on the ocean bottom, but by using PVC, which has the same durability but is lighter and easy to mold, installation is easier. Through the coral reef revival project, the AGC Group is also raising awareness of local people regarding the preservation of coral reefs.
Reducing Greenhouse Gases by Creating Zero-Energy Buildings
The AGC Group is working to reduce greenhouse gases by creating energy-efficient buildings. By using AGC’s environmentally friendly products and materials, the Administrative Building of the Kashima Plant (in Kamisu City, Ibaraki Prefecture) has received BELS certification as a net zero-energy building.
The headquarters building of AGC Glass Europe in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium was also an early adopter of zero energy building concept with the initiative for energy-saving and energy-generation creation. The facility is categorized as a Nearly Zero Energy building.