Abstract

In the past few years, the erection of high-rise buildings, or rather skyscrapers, with the extensive use of glass façades can be seen a lot. This paper mainly includes a study on the environmental impacts caused due to the increase of glass façades used in the city of Mumbai. Glass as a material does look pleasing but with the torrid temperatures we experience in Mumbai and the high amount of glass used, then is glass a better alternative to thick masonry? Is it necessary to know the cause of how it affects the environment and find out possible solutions for the same? Based upon the case studies of Mumbai, the heat island effect and high energy consumption are the major problems caused due to the extreme use of glass façades. To overcome such issues, it is mandatory to incorporate sustainable glass façades into our design to minimize the environmental impact. The use of photovoltaic glass, low emissivity coatings, and double or triple glazing, can be a few of the methods that can be followed.

Keywords: Heat Island effect, green façade, energy-efficient building, photovoltaic glass

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1. World Population Review. (2023). Mumbai population 2023 [Online]. Available from: https://worldpopulationreview.com/cities/india/mumbai.
2. Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). (2025). Urban heat stress: Mapping of vulnerability in Mumbai [Oline]. New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment. Available from: https://www.cseindia.org/urban-heat-stress-Mumbai.pdf.
3. Mumbai Climate Action Plan. Mumbai: Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai. 2022. Available from: https://www.mcgm.gov.in
4. Savić J, Đurić-Mijović D, Bogdanović V. Architectural glass: Types, performance and legislation. Facta Univ Ser Archit Civ Eng. 2013;11(1):35–45.
5. Mehaoued K, Lartigue B. Influence of a reflective glass façade on surrounding microclimate and building cooling load: Case of an office building in Algiers. Sustain Cities Soc. 2019;46:101443.
6. Tabatabaei SS, Fayaz R. The effect of facade materials and coatings on urban heat island mitigation and outdoor thermal comfort in hot semi-arid climate. Build Environ. 2023;243:110701.
7. Hannoudi L, Saleeb N, Dafoulas G. The impact of glass properties on the energy efficiency and embodied carbon of multi-angled façade systems. J Clean Prod. 2024;437:140725.
8. Shastri H, Ghosh S, Paul S, Shafizadeh-Moghadam H, Helbich M, Karmakar S. Future urban rainfall projections considering the impacts of climate change and urbanization with statistical–dynamical integrated approach. Clim Dyn. 2019;52:6033–6051.
9. Maral SG, Mukhopadhyay T. Signal of urban heat island (UHI) effect: a case study of Mumbai metropolitan region. Mausam. 2015;66(4):729–740.
10. Salsabila ND, Usman IM, Abd Malek MI, Ibrahim NL, Utaberta N. Analyzing the effects of high-rise buildings with glass façades on outdoor human comfort in the Jakarta metropolitan area. J Adv Res Appl Sci Eng Technol. 2023;29(2):91–104.
11. Dwivedi A. Macro-and micro-level studies using Urban Heat Islands to simulate effects of greening, building materials and other mitigating factors in Mumbai city. Archit Sci Rev. 2019;62(2):126–144.

Abstract

In the past few years, the erection of high-rise buildings, or rather skyscrapers, with the extensive use of glass façades can be seen a lot. This paper mainly includes a study on the environmental impacts caused due to the increase of glass façades used in the city of Mumbai. Glass as a material does look pleasing but with the torrid temperatures we experience in Mumbai and the high amount of glass used, then is glass a better alternative to thick masonry? Is it necessary to know the cause of how it affects the environment and find out possible solutions for the same? Based upon the case studies of Mumbai, the heat island effect and high energy consumption are the major problems caused due to the extreme use of glass façades. To overcome such issues, it is mandatory to incorporate sustainable glass façades into our design to minimize the environmental impact. The use of photovoltaic glass, low emissivity coatings, and double or triple glazing, can be a few of the methods that can be followed.

Keywords: Heat Island effect, green façade, energy-efficient building, photovoltaic glass

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. World Population Review. (2023). Mumbai population 2023 [Online]. Available from: https://worldpopulationreview.com/cities/india/mumbai.
2. Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). (2025). Urban heat stress: Mapping of vulnerability in Mumbai [Oline]. New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment. Available from: https://www.cseindia.org/urban-heat-stress-Mumbai.pdf.
3. Mumbai Climate Action Plan. Mumbai: Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai. 2022. Available from: https://www.mcgm.gov.in
4. Savić J, Đurić-Mijović D, Bogdanović V. Architectural glass: Types, performance and legislation. Facta Univ Ser Archit Civ Eng. 2013;11(1):35–45.
5. Mehaoued K, Lartigue B. Influence of a reflective glass façade on surrounding microclimate and building cooling load: Case of an office building in Algiers. Sustain Cities Soc. 2019;46:101443.
6. Tabatabaei SS, Fayaz R. The effect of facade materials and coatings on urban heat island mitigation and outdoor thermal comfort in hot semi-arid climate. Build Environ. 2023;243:110701.
7. Hannoudi L, Saleeb N, Dafoulas G. The impact of glass properties on the energy efficiency and embodied carbon of multi-angled façade systems. J Clean Prod. 2024;437:140725.
8. Shastri H, Ghosh S, Paul S, Shafizadeh-Moghadam H, Helbich M, Karmakar S. Future urban rainfall projections considering the impacts of climate change and urbanization with statistical–dynamical integrated approach. Clim Dyn. 2019;52:6033–6051.
9. Maral SG, Mukhopadhyay T. Signal of urban heat island (UHI) effect: a case study of Mumbai metropolitan region. Mausam. 2015;66(4):729–740.
10. Salsabila ND, Usman IM, Abd Malek MI, Ibrahim NL, Utaberta N. Analyzing the effects of high-rise buildings with glass façades on outdoor human comfort in the Jakarta metropolitan area. J Adv Res Appl Sci Eng Technol. 2023;29(2):91–104.
11. Dwivedi A. Macro-and micro-level studies using Urban Heat Islands to simulate effects of greening, building materials and other mitigating factors in Mumbai city. Archit Sci Rev. 2019;62(2):126–144.