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Understanding Low-E Glass

Causes, Prevention, and Solutions

What is Low-E Glass?

W.J Smith Construction Redefines Remodeling, Renovation, and define Causes, Prevention, and Solutions

Low-E glass, or low-emissivity glass, is a type of glass that has been coated with a thin layer of metallic oxide. This coating allows visible light to pass through the glass, while reflecting infrared and ultraviolet light.

This makes low-E glass more energy-efficient than ordinary glass, as it helps to keep homes cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

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Custom Home Builders Greenville NC

How does low-E glass work?

To understand how low-E glass works, it’s helpful to know a little bit about how heat is transferred. There are three main ways that heat is transferred: conduction, convection, and radiation.

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Conduction

Conduction is the transfer of heat from a warmer object to a cooler object through direct contact. For example, if you put a spoon in a hot cup of coffee, the heat from the coffee will be conducted to the spoon.

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Convection

Convection is the transfer of heat through the movement of fluids. For example, when you turn on the heat in your home(Home builder Greenville NC), the hot air rises to the top of the room, while the cooler air sinks to the bottom. This creates a convection current, which helps to heat the entire room.

Radiation

Radiation is the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves. For example, the sun’s heat is transferred to Earth through radiation.

Low-E glass works by reducing the amount of heat that is transferred through radiation. The metallic oxide coating on the glass reflects infrared and ultraviolet light, which are the types of light that carry heat. This helps to keep homes(Home improvement Greenville NC) cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

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Benefits of low-E glass

Reduced energy bills

Low-E glass can help to reduce your heating and cooling costs by up to 30%. This is because low-E glass helps to keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Increased comfort

Low-E glass can help to create a more comfortable indoor environment. This is because low-E glass helps to reduce hot spots and cold spots in your home.

Protection from UV rays

Low-E glass can help to protect your furniture and furnishings from the harmful effects of UV rays. UV rays can cause fading and discoloration, so low-E glass can help to keep your home looking its best.

Reduced noise pollution

Low-E glass can help to reduce noise pollution from outside. This is because low-E glass is thicker than ordinary glass, which helps to absorb sound waves.

Types of low-E glass

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Hard coat low-E glass

Hard coat low-E glass is coated with a thin layer of metallic oxide during the manufacturing process. This coating is very durable and resistant to scratching.

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Soft coat low-E glass

Soft coat low-E glass is coated with a thin layer of metallic oxide after the manufacturing process. This coating is not as durable as hard coat low-E glass, but it is more transparent.

Choosing the right low-E glass for your home

When choosing low-E glass for your home, it’s important to consider the climate you live in and the type of windows you have. If you live in a cold climate, you’ll want to choose low-E glass that is designed to keep your home warm. If you live in a hot climate, you’ll want to choose low-E glass that is designed to keep your home cool.

You should also consider the type of windows(Window replacement Greenville NC) you have. If you have old, drafty windows, you may want to consider replacing them with new windows that have low-E glass. If you have newer, more energy-efficient windows, you may be able to get by with simply adding a low-E window film.

Technical FAQs

Low-E glass has a thin coating of metallic oxide that reflects infrared and ultraviolet light. Ordinary glass does not have this coating.

Low-E glass does not significantly reduce visible light transmission. In fact, some types of low-E glass can actually improve visible light transmission.

Yes, low-E glass can help to reduce your heating and cooling costs by up to 30%.

Conclusion

Low-E glass is a great way to improve the energy efficiency of your home. It can help to reduce your heating and cooling costs, create a more comfortable indoor environment, and protect your furniture and furnishings from the harmful effects of UV rays.

If you’re considering replacing your windows, or if you’re looking for a way to improve the energy efficiency of your existing windows, low-E glass is a great option.

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