Low
E Glass
Low E Glass is
a heat reflective glass developed in the late 70's.
It came into use as a mainstay of home improvements
by the mid-80's and has readily found its way into
common use in the present.
The
Texas Energy Code
encourages the use of Low-E Glass in the North Texas
area, but may not apply to all remodels. Doors are
not required to have Low-E glass. |
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In the winter,
Low-E Glass is designed to work in two ways: First,
it transmits the sun's shortwave energy. This means
it allows the sun's energy (which provides visible light
and invisible heat) in through the windows, which helps
heat a home in winter.
Second, once the sun's heat is inside a home, the coating
works to reduce the amount of heat transferred through
the glass to the colder exterior. As a result, less
of this heat, as well as the heat produced by a furnace,
is transmitted back through the glass to the outside,
helping to reduce heating bills in winter. |
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In the summer, heat
enters a house through ordinary clear glass to the cooler
interior. This happens in two ways: first, through direct
shortwave sunlight; and second, by long-wave radiation
generated by sidewalks, driveways, and other elements
which have absorbed heat from the sun. Low-E Glass effectively
reduces this unwanted radiant heat gain by reflecting
a significant portion of long-wave radiation back to
the outside, helping to keep homes cooler and reduce
cooling costs in summer. |
Reduction of Heat Loss
in Winter
Low-E Glass reduces heat loss to the cold outdoors
by dramatically reducing radiant heat transfer and
actually reflecting interior heat back into the
room. This means that your furnace heat is
actually reflected back in towards the house as
opposed to its natural tendency to move towards
the cooler air outside.
A Source of Free Energy
Unlike the gray and bronze tinted glass of the past
(Low-E Glass allows more of the sun's rays to enter
a home as solar energy to be converted into usable
heat in winter.
Reduced Heat Gain in Summer
The same effect of keeping interior heat inside
in the winter helps reduce the flow of hot outside
air into the cooler interior in summer.
Lower Utility Bills
The bottom line is that Low-E Glass helps reduce
the number of heating and cooling Btus needed to
keep a house at a comfortable temperature. That
means furnace and air-conditioning systems work
less, and that can add up to significant energy
savings.
Reduction of UV Rays
Low-E Glass significantly reduces transmission of
the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays, one of the
leading causes of premature fading and degradation
of fabrics, upholstery and carpeting.
Comfort
Consumers want
comfort and savings. No one enjoys sitting near
a cold, drafty window in winter. Low-E Glass works
to raise the inside glass surface temperature in
winter, to help minimize cold spots and keep homeowners
more comfortable.
Minimized Condensation
Since Low-E Glass helps keep the inside glass surface
temperature warmer, homeowners can enjoy a more
comfortable, higher humidity level with greatly
reduced condensation and fogging.
Larger Window Areas
Because Low-E Glass is an energy-efficient, high
performance glass, architects, builders, and homeowners
have the freedom to incorporate larger window and
glass areas in their designs, without the resulting
excessive energy costs.
Appearance
Todays' Low-E Glass is color-neutral. Homeowners
can enjoy the great looks as well as the great performance
of windows made with Low-E Glass.
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| © 2009 The Window Connection |
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