One way that you can make your home more energy efficient, is to invest in residential glass windows with a Low-E coating. Maybe you’ve heard of it before, or maybe you haven’t, either way, it is something that you should look into and consider investing in. Whether you have heard of Low-E or not, chances are you might be wondering what exactly Low-E is and why it is recommended.
What is Low-E
Low-E stands for “low emissivity”, which is a fancy term that means the ability of a material to radiate energy. When glass is treated with a Low-E coating, it increases its insulation capabilities from that of normal glass, because it prevents the heat from the sun from passing through. In other words, this means that the Low-E coating will allow the light from the sun to brighten up a room while blocking the heat to keep the indoor temperature comfortable and right where you want it.
This might sound too good to be true, but it is! In order to better understand Low-E and how it works so effectively, we first have to understand the solar spectrum of light. The light that is produced by the sun is made up of three different types of light: there is the visible spectrum of light that we can see, invisible Ultraviolet (UV) light, and invisible Infrared (IR) light. When these three combine, they create the solar spectrum of light that we receive as energy from the sun. Each of these three lights emits a different wavelength that is specific to it, Low-E is able to block certain wavelengths while still allowing others to pass through. This allows us to only allow only certain wavelengths through while blocking unwanted/harmful rays.
Benefits of Low-E
Low-E coatings are specifically designed to reflect and block both UV and IR rays, while still allowing visible light to pass through. Through this process, homeowners benefit from having a reduced amount of heat transfer through the windows, which protects furniture and carpeting from harmful UV rays that can cause them to fade, and saves money due to the better insulation. Because Low-E coatings are specifically designed to filter out UV and IR rays, you can still enjoy all the natural sunlight without all the harmful rays.
Cleaning Low-E Glass
Another great thing about Low-E coatings is that it is applied between two panes of residential glass, so you don’t have to use any special cleaning solution. You can use your favorite window cleaning products you’ve always used, without having to worry about ruining the Low-E coating.
Hopefully, now you have a better idea and understanding of what Low-E is and why it is a good investment when purchasing new residential glass windows. If you are interested in purchasing new windows with Low-E, contact Gordon’s Glass to receive a free estimate and learn more about how Low-E can help you to save money on your utility bills.
