This document provides information about insulating glass units (IGUs) with integrated cord-free louvers. It discusses how these IGUs can improve energy efficiency and control heat gain by managing light transmission and reducing solar heat gain. Example projects are described that utilize these IGUs for daylighting, sound control, vision and privacy control, and infection control. Controls, profiles and finishes for the louvers are also outlined.

1. welcome!
2

2. Designing with Insulated Glass Units (IGUs) with
integrated cord-free louvers
AN AIA CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM
EDUCATION PROVIDER INFOSPEC, INC.
CREDIT FOR THIS COURSE IS
1 AIA/CES HSW/SD LEARNING UNIT
1 GBCI CE HOUR FOR LEED PROFESSIONALS
3 © InfoSpec, Inc. 2010

3. Approved Promotional Statement:
InfoSpec, Inc. is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of
Architects Continuing Education Systems (AIA/CES). Credit(s) earned on
completion of this program will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members.
Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are
available upon request.
This program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional
education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or
construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA or InfoSpec, Inc. of
any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using,
distributing, or dealing in any material or product.
Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be
addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.
4

4. Course Format: This is a structured, Face to Face course.
Course Credit: 1 Health Safety & Welfare (HSW) Sustainable Design
(SD) Learning Unit (LU)
Completion Certificate: A copy is sent to you by email upon request.
When you fill out the Course Attendance, please indicate if you need
one. Also please ensure the information you provide is legible. Send
email request to certificate@infospecinc.com
Design professionals: Certificates of Completion are
sent to your email address.
5

5. InfoSpec, Inc.
Daylight and Energy: Designing with Insulating Glass Units (IGUs)
with integrated cord-free louvers
USGBC Course ID: 0090005159
1
6

6. designing with Insulated Glass Units (IGUs)
with integrated cord-free louvers
7

7. When the design professional completes this course, they
will be able to:
Describe the benefits of designing with daylight.
List several strategies for daylight optimization.
Explain what IGUs with integrated cord-free louvers are.
List several ways IGUs with integrated cord-free louvers
improve energy efficiency and control heat gain.
List several application examples and explain the
sustainable design features of each.
Explain the operating options for IGUs with integrated cord-
free louvers.
List the sustainable design benefits of incorporating IGUs
with integrated cord-free louvers into your project.
8

8. health, productivity and strategies
9

9. Lighting is a major energy-user in buildings –
around 24% of the energy used by commercial buildings.
Shares of primary energy use in U.S. commercial
buildings
(USDOE, 2008)
Figure source: www.interacademycouncil.net
10

10. Should be able to provide sufficient thermal resistance.
Meet aesthetic requirements.
Provide adequate transparency for the
occupants to have visual contact with
the exterior.
Should be able to bring in appropriate
level of daylight.
11 glassmarble.cn

11. Why would a building owner want to take on the challenge of
using daylight to light a building?
In a word, money.
A good daylighting design can save up to 75 percent of the
energy used for electric lighting in a building.
Using Daylighting To Save On Energy Costs
By David Kozlowski
April 2006
www.aeieng.com/services/sustainability
12

12. “Daylighting, when done well, can reduce building energy use
substantially by reducing its need for electric lighting, cooling and
heating."
"Our research suggests that in a daytime-occupied commercial building,
dimmable daylighting controls could reduce the total electricity and
peak demand between 20 and 40 percent."
Environmental Energy Technologies Division (EETD) research program called
"Daylighting with Integrated Envelope and Lighting Systems.“
Stephen Selkowitz, head of EETD’s Building Technologies Department, and
Eleanor Lee, EETD Project Manager
www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/daylight-energy.html
13

13. Daylighting is considered full spectrum lighting.
Studies have shown that full spectrum lighting is essential
for normal human activities.
Daylighting has been associated with:
Improved mood
Enhanced morale
Lower fatigue
Reduced eyestrain
Increased learning ability
Faster healing
14

14. Natural light affects the human Circadian Rhythm.
The Circadian Rhythm is a 24-hour cycle to which most
physiologic processes are set.
In the absence of natural light the body’s normal rhythm is
upset. This can lead to:
Hormonal imbalances
Sleep disorders
Mood disturbances
When sunlight enters our eyes it causes melatonin levels
to decrease stimulating wakefulness and enhanced
moods.
If daylight and artificial light in the interior of buildings are
inadequate, melatonin can increase—causing fatigue and
depression.
15

15. Quality daylight in workspace increases occupants’
productivity and level of comfort.
Daylighting is an effective way of reducing energy use in
buildings.
Large amounts of energy can be saved by using well
designed lighting controls that can take advantage of the
natural light available.
Galasiu and Veitch 2006
Bourgeois et al. 2006, Kapsis 2009, Robinson 2009
16

16. Benefits of daylighting in schools include:
Increased student and teacher attendance.
Increased achievement rates.
Reduced fatigue factors.
Improved student health.
DayStar Sunlighting Systems. (1998). “Benefits of Natural Daylighting.”
http://www.daystarsunlighting.com/benefits.htm. Accessed June 11, 1998
Heschong Mahone Group studies
have shown that:
Students perform better under
natural light.
“Students with the most daylighting
in their classrooms progress
20% faster on math tests and
26% faster on reading tests
in one year than those with the least.”
Daylighting in Schools - An Investigation into the Relationship Between
Daylighting and Human Performance”
HESCHONG MAHONE GROUP - Fair Oaks, CA
17

17. The incredible amount of energy in sunlight.
On a clear day, the sun provides 8,000 to 10,000 foot-candles of light.
Even through the glass, it provides 5,000 foot-candles on a clear day
and 1,000 foot-candles on a cloudy day.
Most people need a mere 35 foot-candles to read.
Compounding the problem: sunlight contains more
heat than visible light.
The sunlight that pours through a typical 4-by-8-foot
window section in an afternoon can heat 15 to 30
gallons of water to a temperature hot enough to
take a shower.
Optimize visible light while reducing heat gain.
Using Daylighting To Save On Energy Costs
By David Kozlowski
April 2006
18

18. In passive solar building design, windows, walls, and floors are
made to collect, store, and distribute solar energy in the form of heat in
the winter and reject solar heat in the summer.
Take advantage of the local climate and sun path. Elements to be
considered include window placement and glazing type, thermal
insulation, thermal mass, and shading.
19

19. Design spaces to use diffuse light from the sky – not direct
sunlight.
Diffused daylighting creates uniform, consistent lighting.
Use daylighting as the primary source of illumination.
20

20. Great interior daylighting features are offset by an exterior architectural
language that defines the daylighting intentions within.
The electric lighting should be designed to supplement daylight .
Treat skylights or top lighting as light fixtures.
Use lighting design simulation tools .
to ensure proper illumination.
Use light colored surfaces throughout
the building.
Paint the ceiling white to promote.
bounce and diffusion through spaces
An atrium is a traditional design feature
that offers a wealth of daylight into deep
interior spaces.
21

21. Fenestration articulation suggesting building orientation, sun
path and lighting intentions is one such example of offering
an intriguing vocabulary to support the function of daylighting
design.
22

22. IGUs with integrated cord-free louvers
23

23. 24

24. With a project you have designed, you want to ensure that the refined
finished work stays that way for many years to come.
With cords and individual operators, post-construction installation
options can become an unforeseen blemish.
Integrated louvers will never sag.
Integrated louvers will never touch the inside face of the interior glass
when installed on sloped surface.
25

25. 26

26. Manage the quantity and quality of light transmission.
With a precise control mechanism, the louvers can rotate 180
degrees, installed horizontally or vertically.
Better natural light distribution by simply rotating louvers.
The depth of a room can be daylit, while still reflecting the light back
outside.
Attributable to light diffusion through the louvers.
27

27. IGUs with integrated cord-free louvers
28

28. Heat build-up is a primary concern when considering glazing solutions.
IGUs with integrated cord-free louvers offer the ideal approach for
controlling heat flow resulting from convection and solar exposure.
Even opened, IGUs with integrated cord-free louvers will block heat
more efficiently than most glass products while offering a perfect light
reveal.
Half-opened, the performance is still convincing and the amount of
interior light is still pleasantly noticeable.
Closed, IGUs with integrated cord-free louvers block solar exposure to
almost 100% and acts as a shield against heat during peak hot summer
periods.
29

29. The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) measures how well
a window blocks heat from sunlight. The SHGC is the
fraction of the heat from the sun that enters through a
window. SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1.
The lower a window’s SHGC, the less solar heat it transmits.
30

30. Louvers can be accurately controlled at any tilt angle.
Unique advanced glazing unit which provides variable SHGC and the
freedom of changing its transparency.
Summer: operate louvers to cutoff direct sunrays to achieve significant
reduction in peak cooling load.
Winter: operate louvers parallel to the sunrays and use solar energy to
heat the interior space.
Best view to exterior Summer Winter
Normal IGU & Maximize solar
Cut off
Daylighting direct sunrays heat gain
31

31. In heat transfer, conduction (or heat conduction) is the transfer of
thermal energy between neighboring molecules in a substance due to
a temperature gradient.
Windows lose or gain heat by conduction through the window spacer.
32

32. For regular IGU, low-e coated glass is an effective way of
controlling heat loss/gain by radiation.
33

33. During hot summer days, louvers can be closed to reduce
heat gain by radiation.
The same is true for cold winter
nights: keep the heat in.
34

34. Heat itself causes the fluid motion (via expansion and
buoyancy force), while at the same time also causing heat
to be transported by this bulk motion of the fluid. This
process is called natural convection.
35

35. Inside the louvered window cavity.
Red color indicates higher air speed near both sides of glass surfaces.
The natural convection current forms a loop inside the window cavity
and accelerates the heat loss.
Cold side Hot side
36

36. Cold side Hot side Cold side Hot side Cold side Hot side
No louvers Fully opened Fully closed
Heat loss by convection is greatly reduced by introducing integrated louvers
37

37. exterior and interior
38

38. For heat control, IGUs with integrated cord-free louvers
are used in atriums, solariums, large open lobby spaces
and office buildings.
Also, for light control, it is ideal for libraries, museums
(where it protects books and exhibits from UV rays),
audiovisual conference rooms, etc.
39

39. Top daylighting section:
Always open for daylighting purposes.
Louvers reflect daylight into the deeper interior.
Middle viewing section:
Controlled according to occupants’ preferences.
Fully opened for the best view to the exterior.
Partially closed for privacy.
Solar heat gain is controlled
No glare from direct sunlight,
improved visual comfort
Intelligent control will further
enhance the daylighting
performance
40

40. Sound Control
Sound is controlled far more efficiently with insulated glass units.
Why? Because increasing the depth of the airspace in an insulated
glass unit also increases the acoustical performance of the unit.
Insulated glass unit with airspaces of 2” and 2 ½” improves sound
control.
STC Ratings 45 and up.
41

41. Vision and Privacy Control
Educational Facilities Health Care Facilities
Libraries Charting alcoves
Gymnasiums Scrub Sinks
Auditoriums Patient Rooms
ICU sliding Doors
Museums Operating Rooms
Art Galleries Emergency Departments
Atriums
Book Stores
Correctional Facilities
Interrogation Rooms
Prison Cells
Sheriff’s Offices
42 42

42. Hygiene
Infection control is a concern.
Unit is hermetically sealed so there are no cleaning and
maintenance issues, louvers remain hygienic and germ-
free at all times.
43

43. Project:
Project: Memorial Hospital
Memorial Hospital
Location:
Location: South Bend, IN
South Bend, IN
Client:
Client: Harmon
Harmon
Architect:
Architect: The Troyer Group
The Troyer Group
44

44. Project:
Project: Lapua Music
Lapua Music
School
School
Location: Finland
Location: Finland
Client:
Client: Vitrea Oy
Vitrea Oy
Architect: Helena Teravainen
Architect: Helena Teravainen
45

45. Project:
Project: UNC Women’s and
UNC Women’s and
Children’s Hospital
Children’s Hospital
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Client:
Client: Vetro
Vetro
Architect: HKS
Architect: HKS
46

46. Project:
Project: Jacobson Athletic
Jacobson Athletic
Facility,
Facility,
Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Location: Ames, IA
Location: Ames, IA
Client:
Client: Architectural Wall
Architectural Wall
Systems
Systems
Architect: Herbert Lewis Kruse
Architect: Herbert Lewis Kruse
Blunck
Blunck
47

47. Project:
Project: Ohzuma Gakuen
Ohzuma Gakuen
University
University
Location:
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo, Japan
Client:
Client: Tostem Corp.
Tostem Corp.
Architect:
Architect: Nikken Sekkei
Nikken Sekkei
48

48. Project:
Project: Varsity Village – Athletic Center
Varsity Village – Athletic Center
University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
Location:
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati, OH
Client:
Client: Waltek
Waltek
Architect:
Architect: Glaserworks //Bernand Tschumi
Glaserworks Bernand Tschumi
Architects
Architects
49

49. Project:
Project: Residence Choquet
Residence Choquet
Location:
Location: St. Bruno, Quebec
St. Bruno, Quebec
50

50. controls, profiles, and finishes
51

51. Intelligent control is available with any customized control strategies.
Main objective is to control the louver tilt angle according to exterior
daylight availability.
Maximize the view to exterior.
Further the savings in electrical
lighting system and air conditioning
system.
52

52. 53

53. Electrical and Remote Control Intelligent Control
54

54. Four different spacer sizes for a wide range of interior and
exterior applications.
55

55. 3/16” (5mm) thick to a maximum glass span of 44” (1219mm)
1/4” (6mm) thick to a maximum glass span of 48” (1219mm)
3/8” (10mm) thick to a maximum glass span of 58” (1473mm)
1/2” (13mm) thick to a maximum glass span of 68” (1727mm)
56

56. Louvers come in a diverse array of colors and finishes.
Surface finish choices can affect the light reflection.
As louvers are integrated, outdoor grime cannot settle on
their surfaces affecting their daylighting performance.
Specular reflection Intermediate reflection Diffuse reflection
57

57. IGU benefits summary and questions
58

58. A 14-story office building with fully glazed facades.
Total glazed areas:
South/North 36,059 ft2 (3350 m2)
East/West 21,259 ft2 (1975 m2)
IGU w/
Savings compared to double glazing ($) integrated Triple glazing
louvers
Capital cost savings (boiler size) $33,120 $47,640
Capital cost savings (chiller size) $149,250 $14,520
Total capital cost savings $182,370 $62,160
Annual operational energy savings (heating) $25,840 $26,960
Annual operational energy savings
(total electricity and peak cooling demand $101,850 $16,170
reduction)
Total annual operational energy savings $127,690 $43,130
59

59. Incorporating IGU with integrated cord-free louvers may contribute
towards your project becoming LEED® Certified through the following
credits in BD+C.
EA Credit 1: Optimize Energy performance (1-19 Points)
IEQ Credit 7.1: Thermal Comfort – Design
IEQ Credit 8.1: Daylight and View – Daylight
IEQ Credit 8.2: Daylight and View – Views
ID Credit: Intelligent control of louver tilt
angle is used for controlling solar heat
gain and enhancing daylighting.
60

60. Louvers help reduce glare and protect against fading.
Creates the ideal wall conditions for art galleries, museums,
libraries and other areas where light control is an absolute
necessity.
Sufficient daylight can enter the building without allowing
excessive unwanted solar gains.
Reduce the incoming solar gains to the minimum indoor
luminance requirement.
By installing insulated louvered glass in exterior applications,
the need for artificial lighting and cooling equipment is
significantly reduced.
Integrated louvers offer total control of the sun’s rays and
adjust the contribution of daylighting to open and adjacent
spaces.
Rotating louvers provide control of vision and privacy.
61

61. Now the design professional will be able to:
Describe the benefits of designing with daylight.
List several strategies for daylight optimization.
Explain what IGUs with integrated cord-free louvers are.
List several ways IGUs with integrated cord-free louvers
improve energy efficiency and control heat gain.
List several application examples and explain the
sustainable design features of each.
Explain the operating options for IGUs with integrated cord-
free louvers.
List the sustainable design benefits of incorporating IGUs
with integrated cord-free louvers into your project.
62

62. The remaining 10 minutes will be focused on
reviewing course content.
63

63. For AIA members
In order to maintain high-quality learning experiences, please access the
evaluation for this course by logging into CES Discovery and clicking on the
Course Evaluation link on the left side of the page
64

64. Designing with Insulated Glass Units (IGUs) with
integrated cord-free louvers
AN AIA CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM
EDUCATION PROVIDER INFOSPEC, INC.
CREDIT FOR THIS COURSE IS
1 AIA/CES HSW/SD LEARNING UNIT
1 GBCI CE HOUR FOR LEED PROFESSIONALS
65 © InfoSpec, Inc. 2010