Benefits of Low-E Glass

When choosing energy-efficient options for your new windows, you may be looking at argon gas fills, frame materials that offer enhanced insulation, and extra window panes. In addition to these selections, low-E glass coatings are a great option to make your new windows even more energy-efficient and keep your home comfortable.

What Is Low-E Glass?

Low-E (low-emittance) glass features an invisible microscopic metal coating that controls heat transfer into and out of your home. This coating can keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Low-E glass works in combination with energy-efficient window panes and window frames with insulating properties to further enhance thermal performance—this can keep your home’s interior temperature as stable as possible and may help lower your energy costs.

The Benefits

To understand the benefits of low-E coatings, it’s crucial to know how the coatings work. The microscopic metal particles in the coating reflect the interior temperature of your home to keep it stable. This means that heat that would usually escape from your home in the winter is reflected back in with a low-E glass coating, keeping the interior warm. In the summer, low-E glass blocks UV rays and reflects excess heat back out, keeping your home’s interior cool. This functionality can dramatically improve energy efficiency and your home’s comfort.

The ability of low-E glass to reflect UV rays can also reduce glare and prevent fading of your furniture, draperies, and other items that are exposed to sunlight, all while maintaining beautiful natural light in your home. Low-E glass doesn’t interfere with the amount of sunlight that enters your home—you can keep it light and bright inside while preserving comfort and efficiency.

Customize Low-E Glass to Your Home

To maximize your home’s comfort, low-E coatings can be customized to your specific climate and the placement of your windows. With low-E glass, there are two types of coatings to choose from. Consider the direction your window is facing as well as the climate you live in for the following options:

• Low-solar gain, which is generally used for windows facing the sun and homes in hotter climates. Low-solar gain coatings are able to reflect the sun’s heat more effectively.
• High-solar gain coatings allow more heat in. This makes them a better choice for homes in areas with frigid winters or for windows that don’t get a lot of sunlight.

You can also choose a hard coat or soft coat for your new replacement windows. Hard coats are applied to the outer glass during the manufacturing process, while soft coats are applied to the interior of the glass between the panes. Soft coats are more energy-efficient and may reflect light better.

When you partner with a Sunrise dealer near you, they will help you choose which low-E glass option is best for your window replacements.

Contact our experts today. We can connect you with an authorized dealer in your area to get you started. We look forward to helping you!