Pilkington Spacia™ is changing the way old windows combine charm and energy efficiency by giving single glass the same insulation as double glazing. This vacuum glazing is quite new and replaces the conventional gas-filled gap with a nearly perfect vacuum. This cuts down on heat loss through conduction and convection by a huge amount while keeping the existing window frames. This is a very new idea for heritage buildings.
Spacia™ doesn’t employ a 20 mm air or argon-filled space like regular double glazing does. Instead, it uses an ultra-thin 0.2 mm vacuum cavity held in place by a microspacer grid of small 0.5 mm pillars that are sealed at the borders. This makes the whole unit just over 6 mm thick, which is very close to the thickness of single glazing yet has thermal performance that is equivalent to or better than most low-e double glazing. The vacuum cuts down on conduction and convection heat loss by about 70%. When used with a low-emissivity coating, Spacia™ delivers up to four times the insulation of regular single glass.
This technology has been quite reliable over the past 20 years. It is widely used in Japan and the UK, where strong heritage conservation laws require that renovations do not change the look of old buildings. Spacia™ solves a long-standing problem: how to get modern insulation and condensation control without hiding the elegance of older homes. It does this by keeping original wood sashes and exquisite details intact. Its better soundproofing makes it even more comfortable, which is especially good for older homes.
From a business point of view, Pilkington Spacia™ has a lot of benefits:
– **Historic Preservation**: Keeps original frames and sightlines, which meets strict conservation standards.
– **Thermal Performance**: Provides better insulation than standard double glazing, but is much thinner and lighter.
– **Energy Efficiency**: It cuts down on heat loss by a lot, which lowers heating costs and carbon emissions.
– **Condensation Reduction**: Stops moisture from building up, which makes timber frames last longer and makes maintenance easier.
– **Sound Benefits:** It keeps sound out better than single or double windows.
– **Installation Flexibility**: Works for retrofits, secondary glazing, and new builds where small profile glazing is important.
– **Aesthetic Integrity**: Keeps thin sightlines that heavy double glazing can’t match, which keeps the character of the building.
Think of Pilkington Spacia™ as an invisible custodian of heritage. It does an amazing job of maintaining the soul of architecture while bringing historic windows into the future of sustainable design. As energy rules get stricter, its streamlined design and strong vacuum insulation create a rare balance between conservation and innovation. Spacia™ offers a way to stay warm, comfortable, and stylish in the future by seamlessly combining cutting-edge technology with elegant period frames. And it does all of this without losing the story these windows tell.