Imagine a building without windows. Windows allows natural light into office buildings while also giving businesses and employees a bit of privacy.
Over the last century, modern inventors have redeveloped glass time and time again. They’ve done this to make structures more energy efficient and comfortable.
Low-E glass consists of two panes with a thin oxide layer on one pane and a spacer between the panes. The two panes get sealed together to form a single insulated glass unit, giving it multiple benefits.
It’s a contractor’s responsibility to educate their clients on the best new windows to have included in the project.
Make new construction windows more eco-friendly by choosing Low-E glass. Keep reading to learn why Low-E glass is the most energy-efficient option.
Understanding Low-E Glass
The term Low-E means low emissivity or low-emission glass. Sometimes people refer to it as temperature-efficient glass or energy-efficient glass.
It’s a type of energy-efficient glass used to improve the efficiency of buildings. It’s commonly used in commercial and residential windows and skylights where light passes through glazing.
Low-E glass reduces heat transfer from the inside of a building to the outside by refracting infrared light back inside. The coating is typically applied on both sides of a glass pane.
Depending on the type of Low-E glass used, the coating reflects anywhere from 50% to 90% of infrared light. It will still allow for the passage of visible light through the glass. The coating also scatters visible light, making it hard to see through from the outside, especially in bright sunlight and at night.
Benefits of Low-E Glass
Style is the top priority for consumers when window shopping. While most people are familiar with the types of windows available on the market, many don’t know what types of glass they’re looking at. They rarely realize that inefficient windows cause a large portion of energy loss.
Conversely, contractors know the different types of glass coatings, including Low-E replacement windows.
Blocks Ultra Violet Rays
The purpose of Low-E windows is to limit the amount of UV radiation rays entering a structure. By buying Low-E glass windows, you prevent discoloration throughout your building, including the following items:
- carpet
- furniture
- wood floors
- window coverings
- wall and ceiling paint
When exposed to UV light, personal belongings, and fixtures face exposure that leads to damage. Property and business owners should also use Low-E glass to protect employees seated near windows from sunburn.
Reduce Electric Bills
With the rising cost of living, property owners are looking for ways to cut monthly expenses. Seeing a lower electric bill is welcomed by everyone.
Putting tints on windows instead of buying new low-energy ones is common. You might have heard that using tint on windows doesn’t let in as much heat, but that’s not true. Tint and film block out a lot of light, but they don’t block out heat energy, UV rays, and infrared light.
The best way to fight high energy bills is to get new low-energy windows for buildings. Low-E window glass is a popular choice for new construction due to its ability to reduce electric bills. This type of glass allows less of the sun’s heat to penetrate the windows while shielding against UV rays.
Additionally, it helps to keep more of the building’s heat inside during the winter months.
Reduce Glare
Sun rays often pose a huge inconvenience if a structure has many east-facing windows. Low-E window glass has a coating that reduces the amount of light from the sun. It reduces glare and makes it easier to see from inside the building.
Eliminates Hot Spots
This type of window glass also helps reduce the number of hot spots within commercial buildings. Hot spots see a reduction of radiant heat entering through the window and skylight during the summer months when outdoor temperatures are high.
Now occupants no longer need to change their seating throughout the day to avoid areas receiving too much sun.
U-Value, VLT, and SHGC
Manufacturers design low-emissivity windows to help keep the temperature in check by reflecting the heat back to occupied areas. You learn how efficient Low-E glass is by looking at the U-value. The U-value measures the total amount of heat lost in a window.
VLT stands for visible light transmittance. It’s how much light in the visible part of the spectrum gets through the glazing. It’s a key factor in ensuring daylighting is as effective as possible.
You can also check a window’s (VLT) rating to see how much natural light it’s giving off.
Next, you’ll also see how efficient Low-E windows are by looking at the glass’s SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient) value. This is how much solar radiation spreads throughout the window. Sunlight can move around and absorb or push inward.
When Were Existing Windows Installed?
Are you wondering if a building already has Low-E windows? If the windows on a structure have been replaced in the past twenty years, chances are they are energy efficient.
However, they are probably still outdated and need replacing for other reasons. It’s essential to understand what Low-E is before ordering windows.
There are several types of Low-E coatings, but these are the two common types.
Solar Coating
Solar control coatings block the sun’s heat from entering a structure through the windows. It reduces the need to use air conditioning continuously during the hot summer months.
Passive Coating
Passive coatings let the sun’s heat into a building in the winter but also reflect the long-wave heat back inside to help reduce heat loss. This type of coating is usually used in cold climates where they are more effective.
Are You Ready for New Windows?
Buying new windows is a big investment for a home or building. Low-E glass provides energy-efficient windows that will increase the property owner’s return on investment.
Supreme Window has provided and installed commercial and residential windows for over a half-century. We serve contractors all over the Washington, DC area.
If you’re looking for sustainability, request a free estimate today.
Recent Comments