Glass has progressed from being used exclusively for window panes to being used as a primary building material in some structures. It is increasingly being used as a load-bearing element in construction beyond traditional non-load bearing applications. Stricter energy efficiency regulations are driving the use of high-performance glass and more research in this area, as different glass types can significantly improve a building's energy efficiency. Specialized glasses include laminated, insulating, coated, tinted, and wire glass, each with different properties. Glass is now being used structurally for canopies, floors, stairs, beams, and columns, enabled by innovations in safety glass like laminated and tempered glass.