SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS AND LEED RATING
The Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Green Building rating system developed by the U.S Green building Council (USGBC), provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction .

The LEED rating system for Green Buildings has six major areas of which five have potential to be tapped through appropriate usage of High performance glass from Saint-Gobain in the design of the building:

ENERGY & ATMOSPHERE (EA)
Optimize Energy Performance
The building facade, windows, doors, and skylights can be designed with high performance glass from SaintGobain to meet the desired solar heat gain coefficient and U-value requirements. The use of Saint-Gobain's energy efficient glass can let in abundant natural light resulting in reduction of artificial lighting costs. A complete building simulation model can also be performed to highlight reduced energy costs to help achieve additional points.

MATERIALS & RESOURCES (MR)
Regional Materials
The distance from the glass manufacturing/fabrication facility to the job site is a major factor in gaining points under the Regional Materials Credit. Saint-Gobain's integrated manufacturing facility at Sriperumbudur (near Chennai) and the similar upcoming facility at Bhiwadi (near New Delhi) contribute towards achieving points under this credit. The wide network ofSaint-Gobain Glass certified glass fabricators/processors also helps to achieve points under this category.

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (EQ)
Daylight and Views
High Performance glass from Saint-Gobain helps to blend the twin actions of achieving desired levels of daylight and transparency to enable external views. The letting in of natural light helps cut down on the artificial lighting costs.

INNOVATION & DESIGN PROCESS (ID)
Innovation in Design
Saint-Gobain Glass addresses needs such as Acoustic Insulation, Self-cleaning, etc apart from the prescribed requirements of energy efficiency, recyclability and day lighting. High performance glass when used in double glazed panels or as laminated units provide higher degree of Acoustic Insulation that ward off unwanted noise from the external atmosphere. Saint-Gobain also offers Self-cleaning glass that can keep itself clean without any maintenance hassles.
Saint-Gobain's products can be value added with Ceramic Fritting that enhances the design requirements and provides solar control.

WATER EFFICIENCY (WE)
Saint-Gobain's innovative product - SGG Bio-Clean (self cleaning glass) is a low-maintenance glass that keeps itself clean naturally, thus saving significant amounts of water and lowers the use of detergents. It is a dual action self cleaning glass that attracts less dirt or grime and stays cleaner for longer.

Thus the overall "Intelligence" use of High Performance Glass from Saint-Gobain in a building can fetch upto 13% of the overall points in the LEED Rating system.