Guardian Industries and South Carolina Benefit from Increased Demand for Low-E Glass

Guardian Industries Corp., a major window glass manufacturer, is investing $45 million to expand its float glass plant in South Carolina’s Chester County with new low-emittance (low-E) coating capabilities.

Expanding the plant will provide about 50 new manufacturing jobs for the community in and around the plant in Richburg, S.C., a town of less than 400 people.  The expansion also will help the glass manufacturer meet increased demand for energy-efficient glass, which helps customers save energy and reduces demand pressure on the region’s electricity sector.

Demand for Low-E Glass is Up

Insulated glass with low-E coatings rejects infrared radiation, reducing heating and cooling needs by blocking a large portion of solar heat gain on sunny days and heat loss on cold days. To reduce energy use, improve comfort, and meet tax credit and green building program criteria, building owners and consumers are increasingly demanding energy-efficient, low-E glass.

Recent updates in state energy codes have prompted significantly greater demand for low-E glass. Residential and commercial buildings across Georgia and the Carolinas need to meet energy efficiency levels that essentially require the use of energy-efficient glass. For updates on the status of building energy codes in individual states and jurisdictions, check out the Building Codes Assistance Project.

• Photo: Richburg, South Carolina manufacturing facility, courtesy of Guardian Industries Corp.

Relief for the Power Sector

In southeastern states, peak demand for electricity is projected to grow steadily, especially from air conditioning during the summer and electric heating in the winter.

With low-E windows, buildings can keep occupants comfortable with smaller, more energy efficient and economical heating and cooling systems. By reducing heat loss and solar heat gain, energy-efficient low-E glass applied in new construction and retrofits will help the power sector to meet electricity demand for more customers without having to build additional power plants.