What is Low-E Glass?
Low-E stands for low-emittance. Glass is coated with a virtually clear material that acts to cut the transmission of ultra-violet rays that pass through from outside to inside. Low-E glass further improves thermal efficiency, cuts glare and prevents the damage that ultra-violet rays can cause to interior furnishings.
• The term Low-E glass is an abbreviation for Low-emissivity glass. This glass is made with a coating on the glass which reflects heat (energy) waves. There are basically two types, hard coat Low-E and soft coat Low-E, and they perform differently. Both are good at keeping the heat inside your home, and both will keep some heat from entering through the glass. • Soft coat Low-E is best at keeping heat from getting into your home, so if you have rooms that are overheating because of direct sunlight this may be the solution. Like many other things in life though, you will have to give up something to get something. For example, if you choose the soft-coat product to keep the heat out in the summer, it also means that you give up getting passive solar heat in the winter months. The hard-coat product would allow more of this type of heat in, in winter and summer. • Hard coat Low-E is best at controlling radiated type heat, so it’s great at keeping heat inside your home, and also at keeping
Low “E” glass is coated with thin metal or metal oxide layers that allow visible light to pass through while blocking ultra-violet and infrared solar energy. You should look for a southern type of Low “E” glass to help keep the heat of the summer sun away and the cool air inside. Come by and let us show you the difference in Low “E” glazing.
Low Emissive or “Low-E” glass has a special thin-film metallic or oxide coating on its interior surface, which allows the passage of short-wave solar energy (light) but prevents the passage of long-wave energy (heat) from the sun or heating systems through the glass. Low-E glass thus allows light to enter while also providing thermal insulation. This type of glass cuts the loss of heat during the winter and cuts the absorption of heat during the summer by reflecting the heat back to its source, thus providing year-round savings by lowering utility bills. Low-E glass also selectively filters the sun’s energy, blocking up to 84% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays in the summer, thereby reducing the degree of fading of upholstery, carpet and drapes. Low E also reduces heating costs reflecting room side heat back into the room resulting in a lower winter U-value.
Low-E glass stands for low emissivity glass. Made during the manufacturing process of the raw glass, low-e is not a film, rather it is a component in the surface of the glass. The actual ingredients in low-e glass vary from type-to-type, but the basic premise is the same: low-e glass reflects heat away. During summer, it reflects heat away from the house and during winter months it reflects the heat generated by a furnace back into a home. Ellison uses a low-solar gain low-e with a double coat of silver (also referred to as a “soft-coat” low-e).
