What type of glass is used on most windows?
Clear glass has been the primary material available for window panes in homes. However, in recent years, the market for glazing–or cutting and fitting window panes into frames–has changed significantly. Now several types of special coatings are available that can help control heat loss and condensation. What is a low E? Microscopically thin, virtually invisible, metal or metallic oxide layers deposited on a window or skylight glazing surface that suppresses heat flow. Low-E coatings are ‘spectrally selective’, i.e. they are transparent to visible light and reflective of infrared (heat) radiation. This is a special surface coating to reduce heat transfer back through the window. What are the options with adding gas in the panes? The gases other than air used in the high end window marketplace are usually argon or krypton, placed between the panes to reduce the U-factor (see below). Argon and Krypton gases are inert, nontoxic gases sometimes used to fill the space between the two glass
