Glass, Coatings and Paint Products from PPG Industries to be Showcased at GreenBuild Expo

Glass, coatings and paint products from PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG) are part of a special demonstration project showcasing the “High Performance School of the Future, Today,” opening today at the 2008 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Boston.

The showcase, designed by Project FROG, a San Francisco-based design firm, features a working classroom that highlights advanced green building systems, products and technologies. Three PPG products were used in the classroom’s construction:

• Solarban 70XL glass, which enhances the learning environment by transmitting sunlight and blocking the sun’s heat, thereby reducing energy consumption by lowering reliance on artificial lighting and cooling systems.
• Pure Performance paint by Pittsburgh Paints, a premium, low-odor, latex paint that emits zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and has passed small chamber emission testing established by the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS).
• Duranar coatings, which contribute to the environmental performance of buildings through exceptional durability and colorfastness, virtually eliminating the need for future repainting and touch-ups.

Energy modeling studies by an independent firm showed that substituting Solarban 70XL glass for dual-pane tinted glass in a standard one-story middle school could cut heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment costs by up to $125,000. Annual energy costs were also lowered by as much as $17,000, or more than 5 percent per year. Cost savings were even more significant in larger buildings.

Pittsburgh Paints’ products are used by architects, designers and building owners throughout the country to meet VOC requirements. The environmentally-gentle formulas provide ease of application not found in most competing low-VOC products.

Duranar SPF and Ultra-COOL coatings are available with infrared-reflective pigments that deflect solar heat, cutting colling costs and enabling architects to brighten metal roofs and building panels with a bold selection of light and medium colors.