Until recently, Australian architects and builders have been building designs similar to that of their counterparts all over the world. They have extensively used high performance glass with reflective coating and insulating glass in their high-rise commercial buildings and residential apartments. However, the introduction of the new building regulations is set to change the scenario drastically. Since these regulations are meant to make the buildings more energy efficient, the construction industry has to include low emissivity glass, higher performance toned glass and Solar Low E glass, etc. in their building designs. The understanding of these new materials is very low in the industry. Regulators of the industry as well as the designers and developers have to realise the benefits of the above products, the resultant energy consumption and the potential reduction in the emissions of greenhouse gases. (more…)