Build Eco Xpo (BEX) Asia 2010

Build Eco Xpo (BEX) Asia is a massive exhibition on Sustainable Buildings of Southeast Asia. The focus is on energy efficient building materials, design and architecture for a future of sustainable growth, and incorporation of critical elements into the construction industry, to enhance competitive advantage and knowledge of the ‘Build Green’ movement.

The Xpo will also serve as a platform to present and share knowledge and expertise on various green construction materials, and educate potential customers of the benefits of these products.

BEX Asia 2010

BEX Asia 2009 achieved great response with over 200 participating countries and 6400 visitors. Following this, the 3rd edition of BEX - BEX Asia 2010 is going to be held in Singapore from 13th to 15th September, 2010.

Event Highlights

The Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) is going to partner with BEX Asia to organise a trade event with a strategic focus on bringing Green Buildings to the forefront of the industry needs.

SGBC is dedicated towards propelling the Singapore building and construction industry towards environmental sustainability by promoting green building design, practices and technologies, the integration of green building initiatives into mainstream design, construction and operation of buildings as well as building capability and professionalism to support wider adoption of green building development and practices in Singapore.

Product Profile

• Acoustic Materials & Systems
• Adhesives
• Air Conditioner
• Air Purifier
• Aluminium
• Automation
• Awnings
• Blinds
• Building Equipment
• Building Services
• Cables
• Ceilings
• Cement
• Chemicals
• Chillers
• Clean Fuel
• CO2 Sensors
• Coatings
• Concrete
• Consultancy
• Controls
• Deckings
• Doors / Gates & Barriers
• Ducting Systems
• Engineering Services
• Escalators
• External Coatings
• Fans
• Fittings
• Flooring Systems
• Fuel
• Furniture
• Generator
• Glass
• Ground Water Protection
• Hardware
• HVAC Systems
• Ironmongery
• LED
• Lifts
• Lighting
• Motors
• Paints
• Pipes
• Polyurethane
• Power Systems
• Properties
• Pumps
• Roofing
• Sanitary wares
• Sealants
• Security & Authentication System
• Software
• Solar Panels
• Solar Power Systems
• Stones
• System Integrators
• Tiles
• Walls / Panels
• Water Heaters
  

Exhibitors’ Profiles

• Agents
• Architects
• Consultants
• Contractors
• Decorators
• Developers
• Distributors
• Engineers
• Estate Managers
• Government Agencies
• Interior Architects
• Interior Designers
• Maintenance Managers
• Manufacturers
• Project Managers
• Property Managers
• Quantity Surveyors
• Retailers
• Statutory Board Officers
• Traders

Venue

Sands Expo & Convention Centre,
Marina Bay Sands,
Singapore.

Save Money through Energy Efficient Secondary Glazing

Implementation of Secondary Glazing can be the ideal path towards attainment of Niravana for Listed Buildings. Well not really, actually just the attainment of energy-efficiency. Secondary Glazing is also recommended for buildings in conservation areas where replacing existing windows is not a practical option. In implementing this option, there is no planning consent required; there are also no maintenance problems. And of course, the biggest benefit is the monetary one; where power and water bills dip significantly. Secondary Glazing also helps create a thermal barrier and controls the penetration of noise from the outside.

Secondary Glazing is unobtrusive, can be flexible or fixed, and can be installed quickly and without the need for building works or redecoration.

Energy Efficient Secondary Glazing involves adding an extra slim-line window in addition to existing windows. Secondary Glazing is often made from slim-line, durable aluminium. It is virtually maintenance-free and gives several years of trouble-free service. Secondary Glazing comes in many styles and colours to match existing windows. Curtains and blinds remain almost unaffected. Secondary Double Glazing is perfect for listed buildings and rented accommodation where altering or replacing the prime window is not possible.

Secondary Glazing can be implemented using a range of glass depending on the key objective. By fitting standard 4mm "float" or "toughened" glazing, a significant reduction in noise and draughts can be attained. For reduction in heat loss, a 4mm glass with a low energy coating on one side can be used. This coating reflects heat back into the room.

Advantages

• Eliminates draughts and offers thermal insulation
• Provides sound insulation
• Retains the character of existing windows
• It is unobtrusive – slender frames do not detract from the look of the rooms
• Offers a choice of fixed, hinged, lift-out plus vertical and horizontal sliding units
• Can be opened, slid aside or removed completely
• Is significantly cheaper than replacement double glazed windows
• Is quick to install and does not require redecoration after fitting
• No planning consent required
• Is easy to maintain and clean
• Increases home security
  

Applications

Secondary glazing is applicable mainly in the following areas:

• Single glass conservatories and outhouses
• Home offices such as garden cabins where heat loss is high
• Offices, schools, place of worship, pubs and other business premises
  

Secondary Double Glazing

“Secondary Double Glazing” is the term used to refer to the process of insulation that involves fixing a window or a door on the inside of another window or door. A space is left between the panes so that the air inside can act as an insulator.

Secondary Double Glazing is actually an inexpensive way of insulating a room against external noise. Installation of Secondary Double Glazing on the doors and windows reduces 50 percent of the total heat loss. This implies a redundancy in the purchase of room heaters - All that has to be done is close the windows and doors for the interiors to get warm within no time. Thus, Secondary Double Glazing is a definite step towards attaining energy-efficiency.

Another benefit of Secondary Double Glazing is enhancement in security. The double glaze will deter burglars who will find it rather hard to break into the premises! The double glaze makes doors and windows strong and durable. This type of security glazing is common in safe rooms, banks, computer facilities and vulnerable laboratories. Most conventional wooden doors and windows are likely to get damaged by extreme weather conditions; secondary double glazed doors and windows have no chance of getting affected by adverse weather conditions.

Other benefits of Secondary Double Glazing include draft proofing and reduction in the entry of dust, obstruction of UV light, and so on. Secondary Double Glazing is a common feature in many buildings that require high levels of noise reduction. For efficient noise reduction, the material that is normally used for Secondary Double Glazing is acoustic glass. Asymmetric secondary double glazing is the best method for effective acoustic noise reduction.

There is a wide array of materials that can be used for Secondary Double Glazing. The most commonly used is the UPVC double glazing. UPVC is available in many colors including white, light shades of blue, brown and cream. They are also available in different styles and sizes.

Other materials that can be used for Secondary Double Glazing are aluminum, preferred for its strength and durability, and hardwood.

Photovoltaic Glass

Photovoltaic glass is a special glass with integrated solar cells that convert solar energy into electricity. This means that the power for an entire building can be produced within the roof and façade areas. The solar cells are embedded between two glass panes and a special resin is filled between the panes, securely wrapping the solar cells on all sides. Each individual cell has two electrical connections, which are linked to other cells in the module, to form a system which generates a direct electrical current.

Need for Photovoltaic Glass

Apart from providing privacy and protection from noise and rain, other features such as thermal insulation and shading are becoming increasingly desirable. All of these functionalities can be obtained simply by installing photovoltaic glass to the shell of a building.

How does it work?

As seen in the science behind PV, a photovoltaic cell is created when a positively charged (P-type) layer of silicon is placed against a negatively charged (N-type) layer of silicon to create a diode and this diode is connected in a circuit via metal conductors on the top and bottom of the silicon sandwich. Though different types of photovoltaics vary in their structure, they generally include the following elements:

1. The cell or multiple cells are the core of the photovoltaic panel.
2. A glass cover is placed over the photovoltaic cell to protect it from the elements while allowing sunlight to pass through to the cell.
3. An additional plastic anti-reflective sheet is often used to enhance the effect of the glass cover and anti-reflective coating of the cell to block reflection.
4. A panel backing (typically plastic) and frame complete the photovoltaic panel, holding all the pieces together and protecting it from damage during installation.
   

Production

The solar cells are embedded between two glass panes, and a special resin fills between the panes, securely wrapping the solar cells on all sides. Each individual cell has two electrical photovoltaic modules (PVs).

A photovoltaic module or photovoltaic panel is a packaged interconnected assembly of photovoltaic cells, also known as solar cells. The photovoltaic module, known more commonly as the solar panel, is then used as a component in a larger photovoltaic system to offer electricity for commercial and residential applications.

Photovoltaic modules enable the active use of solar radiation by turning it into electrical energy; in addition, they can also represent a form of passive solar protection. The most well known PV products are silicon solar cells, available in three types:

1. Monocrystalline:

The monocrystalline solar cells are opaque, blue, or dark grey to black, and they have a high efficiency (14% to 16%). They are expensive because they are made from silicon crystals in a complicated manufacturing process.

2. Poly- or multicrystaffine:

The polycrystalline solar cells are mostly blue or opaque. These are cheaper because they are made from poured silicon blocks, but they have a lower efficiency (14%). Crystalline solar cells are produced as 0.4mm thick discs in sizes from 10 x 10cm to 15 x 15cm. These discs are then put together to form modules and embedded with resin in the cavity in a laminated glass unit. According to composition, the result can be either a transparent, translucent or a non-transparent module.

Light transmission through transparent and translucent modules can be set from 4% to 30% according to the choice of spacing. Special light-scattering and insulating glass elements have been developed to meet both the needs in terms of lighting and insulation as well as the desire to maintain and exploit the corporate image as protected through the façade. In the exterior laminated glass, PV cells have a 5mm gap between them. On the inside, a laminated glass with an opaque interlayer is used.

3. Amorphous:

Amorphous is a non-crystalline solar cells. Amorphous modules are transparent, can be used as window glazing in usual windows, sunspaces, they can be integrated into roofs etc. Transparent modules can be also part of energy efficient glazing, where they are used instead of usual glass.

Optimized exploitation of solar energy can be achieved by combining several thin film layers with different spectral responses. So-called tandem cells have reached up to 12% efficiency under laboratory conditions, slightly higher values seem possible. Further possibilities are offered by triple cells which consist of a succession of three thin film layers Efficiencies of 10% in production quantities are becoming realistic.