New WindowsUseGlassThat Cleans Itself (NAPSA)—Do you do windows? ‘You may no longer haveto, thanks to a new kind of glass that literally cleansitself. The glass uses the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays to gradually and continuously break down and dissolve organic dirt through what’s called a photocatalytic effect. The glass also reduces the surface tension of water, causing it to sheet down the surface and wash away dirt to leave windows clean. “Your time is very valuable, and with Pilkington Activ” selfcleaning glass, you can spend less of it cleaning windows, and more time with family and other activities,” said Rick Karcher, president of Pilkington Building Products North America. Activ” glass is the first and only glass manufactured with these self-cleaning properties. It can be used in new and replacement windows and skylights. After installation, the glass needs to be exposed to UV rays for several days to activate the photocatalytic properties. Once activated, the photocatalytic process continues to work at night and on cloudy days. “Tt’s not that you'll never have to clean your windows again, but the frequency and amountof time cleaning windows will decrease significantly,” added Karcher. “And, you won't give up anything in aesthetics. Windows with Activ™ glass will be nearly as clear as any other window.” The new glass offers homeowners key benefits: > Saves time by significantly reducing the need to clean windows. If there is a dry spell, simply spray the windows with water. No You can see the hydrophillic action of Activ™ glass (left) causes water to sheet, rather than streak and spot, as it does on ordinary glass (right). window cleaner is necessary. Undissolved dirt will be wiped away by the sheeting effect of the water. > Saves money by eliminating the need to buy window cleaning detergents, or the need to hire a service company to clean windows. > Safety. Eliminates the need to climb ladders—usually carrying a bucket of cleaning supplies—to the second- and third-floor windows. For the majority of homes, most windows can be reached with water from a garden hose. > Eliminates the run-off of potentially harmful detergents into the environment. The manufacturer guarantees Activ™ glass for 10 years, but homeowners can expect it to last even longer. For more information about Pilkington Activ” glass or to locate the window manufacturer/distributor nearest you, call 1-866-88- ACTIV (1-866-882-2848) or visit www.activglass.com.
