Application of vacuum technology: Vacuum insulated glazing- improving the energy efficiency of buildings

Heat loss through the windows of buildings is one of the factors contributing to high energy consumption for space heating resulting in excessive CO2 emissions which lead to climate change. Replacing standard double air filled glazing, U value of 2.85 Wm-2K-1, with vacuum insulated glazing, U value of approximately 0.8 Wm-2K-1, reduces the heat loss by more than three times and reduces the frame thickness due to the thinness of vacuum insulated glazing (8.15mm) as illustrated in Fig.1. Further reduction of U value less than 0.5 Wm-2K-1 can be achieved by using triple vacuum glazing; this reduces heat loss through windows to approximately the same level as that through external solid walls. The research on the design and development of energy-efficient vacuum insulated glazing at Loughborough University, led by Prof. Philip C. Eames and Saim Memon, forms part of the CALEBRE (Consumer Appealing Low Energy technologies for Building REtrofitting) project aimed to establish a robust refurbishment package for reducing UK domestic CO2 emissions resulting from solid-wall dwellings.