As European policymakers sharpen their focus on summer comfort in buildings, the continent’s glass industry is seeking to shape the conversation. Glass for Europe has released a new paper arguing that advanced solar control glazing should be treated as a primary tool in addressing overheating, particularly as the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) places greater weight on cooling needs and a new Heating and Cooling Strategy moves forward.
Rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves are turning overheating into a pressing concern for occupants, architects and regulators. For years, energy performance rules have largely concentrated on winter insulation. Glass for Europe contends that this seasonal imbalance has left solar heat gains through poorly specified glazing as a significant driver of indoor temperature spikes during warmer months.
In its paper, The Role of Solar Control Glazing in Passive Cooling of Buildings, the association sets out the case for glazing designed to limit unwanted solar radiation while preserving daylight and visual comfort. When incorporated at the design stage, solar control glass can curb peak indoor temperatures and reduce dependence on mechanical air conditioning, according to the document.
The paper points to a series of related effects: improved thermal comfort for building users, lower cooling energy demand, reduced carbon emissions and the option to install smaller cooling systems. By addressing heat gains through the building envelope, the industry group argues, developers can rely less on active systems or external shading materials.
Beyond product performance, the publication turns to regulation. An annex examines EPBD guidance on calculating the energy performance of transparent building elements, drawing attention to the treatment of the solar factor in assessments. Properly accounting for how much solar energy glazing admits, Glass for Europe argues, will be central to delivering buildings that remain comfortable in hotter summers without driving up electricity use.
With the policy framework evolving, the industry’s message is straightforward: passive measures such as solar control glazing should sit at the forefront of Europe’s response to building overheating.
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Why this Matters: For the UK fenestration market, the paper lands at a sensitive moment. With regulators placing greater weight on overheating risk and summer performance, manufacturers and fabricators face rising scrutiny over glazing specifications. Solar control glass could move from a niche commercial product to a mainstream consideration in residential and mixed-use schemes. That shift carries implications for product development, compliance calculations and competitive positioning across the UK supply chain.
