PPG Industries are fabricating specially coated windows that can save motorists money at the gas pump. The coated glass that is cut, heated and shaped into sidelight windows at the Tipton plant, along with windshields and rear windows made in Evansville, Ind., can save motorists up to US$66/pa on fuel costs because they won't need to run the air conditioner as much, said Mukesh Rustagi, global product marketing manger for PPG. The patented metallic coating, applied to the inside of two layers of glass moulded together reflects about 50% of the sun's ultraviolet rays and infrared energy, he said, in describing PPG's Sungate glass. PPG's Sungate can reduce the temperature in the front seat by 27 degrees, according to the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, Col. Sungate is the latest generation of PPG heat-reflecting auto glass.
