Fiberglass Windows have the lowest overall environmental impact. The energy efficiency and long life of fiberglass windows significantly reduces the need for purchased energy, which means that their impacts on resource depletion and embodied energy is also limited. The high energy use and to a lesser extent, the emission during production of aluminum-clad wood and vinyl windows were the principle factors working against these products.

The chart below compares window material to eight environmental issues.

     
Environmental Fenestration Comparison
 
Materials Used
resource depletion
manufacturing emissions
embodied energy
energy used during life
ozone depletion
emission during life
disposal
Fiberglass
glass fiber resin
low
low
medium
low
low
medium
medium
aluminum clad wood
wood and aluminum
medium
medium
medium
medium
low
low
medium
Vinyl
polyvinyl chloride
high
high
medium
medium
low
low
Medium
     

Over the years we have learned that building methods and materials can affect the health of occupants. Fiberglass Windows are selected by Canada's CMHC (Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation) when specifying windows for occupants that are highly susceptible to, or have chronic allergic reactions to materials.

 

In North America every local Gas Station was required by law to dig up their Steel Storage Gas Tanks and replace them with Fiberglass, as the material least likely to corrode, rot, disintegrate and leak its contents. For the same reason the storage of toxin chemicals is stored in a fiberglass container.

Fiberglass is an inert material that is nonpolluting, meets the needs of people concerned with their health and environment. Fiberglass rovings and mats are made from pure silica sand, requiring less energy to produce into a finished product than PVC or Aluminum. Sand is more plentiful than our forests. Sand is an inert natural occurring product, that does not contribute to environmental degradation or deforestation.


Fiberglass Windows were selected as the material of choice by "Health House" in Toronto Canada, a project to design and promote the reduction of emissions of chemicals and vapor that cause indoor pollution in home construction. Fiberglass was selected as the most environmentally friendly materials under criteria that vinyl and wood can meet.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
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