What is Low “E” Glass and Argon gas?
Low “E” stands for Low emissivity which is a coating utilized in insulating glass. The coating was developed to provide improved shading in the summer and solar heat gain in the winter. The benefits are warm center glass temperature for the winter, reduced glass temperature for summer conditions compared to clear glass, reduced ultraviolet light transmissions which helps prevent fading of draperies and furniture and reduces heating and cooling costs for both warm and cold climates. Fifty percent of air conditioning costs are attributed to windows. When it’s very hot outside, we don’t want the glass to allow that heat into the home. Conversely, when it’s very cold outside, we don’t want the heat inside to be able to leave your home through your window. This is what low “E” does, it blocks the transfer of this heat keeping your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Regular glass emits around 84% of radiant heat while Low emits around 4% of radiant heat.
