Achieving sustainability in commercial buildings requires providing occupants with a comfortable work environment, and one way to accomplish this is through high-performance glazing.

Commercial buildings ultimately exist to help people accomplish their goals, so good indoor air quality and access to natural light are important considerations for reducing dependency on mechanical systems and boosting worker productivity.

By some estimates, only about 30 percent of all commercial buildings have high-performance windows. In hot, dry climates, for instance, underperforming windows can adversely impact occupant comfort by allowing excessive solar heat gain.

Defining "Comfort”

When a group of people work together in a building, its internal space must provide comfort for the majority. It is generally accepted that internal temperatures between 68-78 degrees Fahrenheit and 30-70 percent humidity provide reasonable comfort for most.

In fact, the systems used to regulate internal environments usually target groups of people rather than individuals. That’s why the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has a regulation requiring 80 percent of all building occupants exposed to the same conditions within a space be "comfortable” at any given time.

While controlling internal temperatures can be accomplished through mechanical systems, this consumes costly energy. The best solutions usually result from a holistic approach to the many aspects of building design. For example, considering the number, size, and placement of windows along with building orientation during the integrated design process can improve comfort and control energy costs.

In addition to choosing glazing that reduces solar heat gain, installing operable windows offers occupants access to fresh air and cross ventilation, which has been shown to keep people alert, productive, happy, and healthy. Finally, windows that minimize solar heat gain while emitting natural light provide workers with a sense of control over their environment and a feeling of well-being that often leads to improved productivity.

Creating a comfortable work environment is one of the biggest uses of energy in commercial buildings and a key component of the Triple Bottom Line. Considering the long-term value of high-performance windows during the design stage of a commercial building project is an often-overlooked yet effective way to improve comfort and achieve sustainability.

Learn about NFRC’s commercial fenestration ratings program.

I am a code official looking for commercial fenestration ratings.