New opportunities for energy-saving new air vent insulating glass

New opportunities for insulating glass

In the context of the development of the "double carbon" goal, a revolution centered on improving energy efficiency is quietly affecting various industries. The construction industry, as a "big energy consumer" in the traditional sense, is now at a critical juncture of transformation and development. In the field of construction, doors and windows, which were once regarded as "energy-consumption shortcomings", have successfully transformed into the "core position" of energy conservation and carbon reduction with the help of the technological innovation of insulating glass, ushering in an unprecedented golden period of development.

The trend has arrived: two-wheel drive of policy and market 

1. Strong guidance of top-level design

As China's "dual carbon" strategy continues to advance, building energy efficiency standards have been improved at an unprecedented rate. From the initial energy saving standards of 65% and 75% to the current ultra-low energy consumption and near-zero energy consumption building standards, almost stringent requirements have been put forward for the thermal insulation performance of the building envelope. The heat transfer coefficient (K value) of ordinary single-piece glass has long been unable to meet the requirements of the new national standards; insulating glass, especially high-performance insulating glass equipped with Low-E coating, filled with inert gas, and using warm edge technology, has a K value that can easily be reduced to below 1.5 W/㎡·K, making it a must-have product that meets or even exceeds the new regulations. The mandatory "hard requirements" at the policy level have opened up huge incremental market space for the entire insulating glass industry.

2. Intrinsic demand for consumption upgrade

In the post-epidemic era, people have higher pursuits of the health, comfort and tranquility of their living environment. A high-performance insulated glass window can exactly meet these needs: 

Warm in winter and cool in summer: significantly reduce indoor and outdoor heat transfer, reduce energy consumption of air conditioning, refrigeration and heating, directly helping owners save electricity bills. 

Quiet and silent: The excellent hollow structure can effectively isolate external noise, creating a quiet and comfortable environment for home or office. 

No condensation trouble: It can maintain the temperature of the glass surface on one side of the room, avoid moisture condensation on the window sill in winter, and significantly improve the living experience.

This kind of cost-effective and comfortable experience that is “affordable to ordinary people” is rapidly extending from the standard configuration of high-end residential buildings to the ordinary commercial housing and old house renovation markets, giving birth to a large-scale consumer market.

Opportunity Insights: The “New Blue Ocean” of the Insulating Glass Industry

This industry opportunity is not simply a growth in market volume, but accompanied by in-depth structural upgrades and application boundary expansion, containing multiple potentials. 

1. Value upgrade from “ordinary model” to “high-performance model”

The biggest opportunity for the industry lies in the upgrading of insulating glass products themselves. The profit margins of traditional ordinary insulating glass (double white glass) are getting smaller and smaller; high-performance insulating glass with the following characteristics is becoming a high value in the industry: 

Multifunctional Low-E glass: High-transmittance or sunshade Low-E glass can be selected according to different climate zones to achieve precise adjustment of heat insulation in summer and heat preservation in winter, adapting to different regional needs. 

Three-glass, two-cavity and vacuum composite technology: It can reduce the heat transfer coefficient (K value) to below 1.0, and its thermal insulation performance is comparable to that of walls. It is a "must have condition" to enter the field of ultra-low energy consumption buildings. 

Warm edge technology: The use of TPS, stainless steel and other non-metallic warm edge spacers eliminates the "cold bridge" phenomenon, which not only improves the performance of the entire window but also extends the service life of the product.

2.The transformation wave of “stock market”

China's existing building stock is very large, and the doors and windows of most of them have backward energy-saving standards. With the comprehensive advancement of old city renovation and energy-saving renovation of existing buildings, this vast "stock market" will become another important driving force for the continued growth of the insulating glass industry. For existing buildings, replacing a batch of energy-saving insulating glass windows is one of the most direct and fastest-effective ways to achieve building energy conservation.

3. Cross-border integration and the explosion of new application scenarios

Today's insulating glass is no longer just a "lighting component" of a building, but has gradually developed into a platform with multiple functions, and its application scenarios are constantly expanding: 

Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV): Encapsulating solar cells inside the insulating glass, so that the building's facade itself has the ability to generate electricity. This is one of the ultimate forms of insulating glass that "can generate energy." 

Smart dimming glass: Put electrochromic, liquid crystal and other materials into the cavity of the insulating glass, which can quickly switch the glass between transparent and opaque, while taking into account privacy protection and lighting requirements. 

New energy vehicles and home appliances: Roof canopies of high-end cars, display cabinet doors of home appliances, etc. have become new application scenarios for high-performance insulating glass, further broadening the industry market.

Meeting the challenges: Key measures to seize opportunities

Facing the current development trend, how should various participants in the industry plan to develop with the trend and seize opportunities? 

For equipment manufacturers: it is necessary to promote the upgrading of production lines in the direction of intelligence and flexibility. Production equipment needs to be able to efficiently and stably manufacture the above-mentioned high-performance, complex-structured insulating glass components, and at the same time achieve rapid production change of "small batches and multiple varieties" to adapt to the development trend of personalized customization in the market. 

For glass processing enterprises: they must abandon the previous low-quality, low-price competition model and shift to a technology-driven and brand-centered development path. Increase investment in research and development of new technologies and new processes, establish a strict quality control system, and transform from a mere "glass manufacturer" to a "building energy-saving solution provider." 

For the entire industry: It is necessary to strengthen consumer education, popularize building energy-saving knowledge, let the market fully realize the long-term value of a high-quality energy-saving window, and jointly promote the development of the industry in the direction of high quality and high added value.

The clarion call for energy conservation and carbon reduction has been sounded, and the green revolution in the construction field is ushering in the best opportunity. Insulating glass, a seemingly traditional product, has been given a new mission by the times and has successfully stood on the historic new development trend. This is not only an opportunity at the product level, but also a comprehensive opportunity for technological innovation, concept upgrading and business model change. Whether you are an enterprise or an industry practitioner, as long as you are driven by innovation and based on quality, you will be able to ride the wave of green development and become an industry leader in the new era.