Suitability of UPVC windows for Green Rating under LEED-NC Version 2.

1 recommendations :
1. Energy Performance
1. Performance in use To quote from book Energy Efficient Windows
published by Prof. N.K.Bansal, Professor, Center of Energy Studies, IIT Delhi
(we would send you a copy), a properly designed Energy Saving Window in an
air-conditioned building can save nearly 30% energy.
The energy saving window essentially consists of i) heat insulating framing material ii)
double glazing and iii) proper sealing between wall and window as well as between the
opening and fixed framing of windows. The relevant figures for different window
materials is as shown below:
Material K-value (Kcal/hr/m C) U-value (Kcal/hr/m C)
Timber 00.462 2.39
Steel 38.570 Aluminum 186.850 4.24
PVC 00.300 2.24
As you would observe a PVC window would give significant saving in energy cost for an
air-conditioned building.
2. The other important aspect of energy saving is the significantly lower energy
cost of manufacture of different window framing materials (see below):
Energy and Crude oil use

Critical Volumes for the Production of

For different Materials

Different Materials

Material

Energy Use

Crude Oil use

Gjoules/ton

Ton/ton

PVC

53

0.63

Steel

30

Aluminum

200

Material

Critical volume of air Critical volume of Water

m3 of air /kg

dm3 water/kg

PVC

700

3000

Steel

3400

4600

Aluminum 9320

27700

Source: Environmentally friendly packaging in the future

Stichting Milieudefensie(NI),1991

As you will notice PVC is environmentally a superior material. In fact PVC windows
have become extremely popular in China on the back of legislative support extended by
the Government for the environmental advantages.
3. Both Aluminum and PVC window profiles are produced by extrusion. PVC
extrusion is however less energy intensive at a melt temperature of 185 C as
against Aluminum, which is extruded cold from billets.

2. Resource Reuse : As per British Plastics Federation, PVC can be recycled relatively
straightforwardly. It is now common practice to recover and recycle factory wastes and /
or off-cuts after the window has been fabricated. These materials are then incorporated
with virgin polymer to produce further long life products including window profiles.
The European PVC industry has committed to recycle 50% of the collectable available
quantities of post consumer waste PVC window waste by 2005. In UK, the PVC-U
products last so long that there simply hasnt been enough feedstock yet to input effectively
into the recovery and recycling process.
In India we routinely recycle 10% waste generated at the setting up stage of extrusion and
end-length off cuts back into the extrusion process.
3. Regional Materials We will be producing a finished window at our factory at
Bomasundara, Bangalore. A majority of our input materials will also be regional, for
instance we will source glass from St.Gobain, Chennai and reinforcement from Peenya,
which are both within the specified 500 km radius.
4. Indoor environment quality The important purpose of a window is to provide excellent
sealing to keep environmental pollutants like sound, dust and even tobacco smoke
isolated. With a Fenesta casement window, sound attenuation of 30db can be achieved.
This is possible only because of excellent air sealing between the opening and fixed part
of the window and around the periphery (Test certificates attached)
5. Low emitting materials (adhesives and sealants) The silicone sealants used for sealing
window around the periphery have nil VOC content and are safe to use.
6. Low emitting materials (paints and coating) The PVC window is extruded pristine
white and does not require any maintenance. It can be easily cleaned with soap & water
and does not require any painting.
7. Life expectancy As per British Plastics Federation the life expectancy of a PVC
window is over 40 years (see attachment)
8. Accreditation of facilities The Fenesta profile extrusion facility at Kota has been
certified by KPMG for ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environment) and OHSAS
18001 (Work Environment). Similarly the Fabrication and Installation process at
Bangalore has been audited for ISO 9001.