The 2024 Texas Glass Association Conference consisted of eight sessions spanning topics such as energy efficient glass, industry trends, pre-fabrication and more. The conference this year welcomed about 155 people to the Austin, Texas, area.

Energy-efficiency and specialty products are the future of glass

Executive Director of Architectural Sales for TriStar Glass Greg Oehlers hosted a session on the past, present and future of energy efficient glass. Oehlers said the energy crisis of the 1970s had a “devastating economic impact on the modern glass industry” and it sent a message to the industry to “keep up.”

Within 44 years, energy consumption in commercial buildings went down by 60% due in large part to the incorporation of energy-efficient glass. With new energy codes pushing for net zero building, the industry has only seven years to get it down another 40%, which willl have a huge impact on the glass industry in the near future, Oehlers said.

Oehlers expects to see more vertical extensions and sunshades incorporated into commercial buildings to help reach net zero. Increased costs to developers are expected to be anywhere between 30% to 80%.

During his keynote address, Max Perilstein, founder of Sole Source Consultants, also touched on the future of glass while discussing industry trends and forecasts.

Perilstein says...


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