At Window Replacements of Georgia, we often hear from our East Cobb clients, what are low-e windows and why should I buy them? Let us explain this! Energy efficient products are becoming the new normal for homeowners that are updating their homes. From appliances and water heaters, to windows and window treatments, everyone is trying to make investments into their homes that will end up saving them money in the long run.
So back to Low-E, this means low emissivity, or more specifically, low thermal emissivity. This describes how Low-E windows are energy efficient, because any material that reflects, absorbs, and emits radiant energy is going to save energy.
When it comes to window glass, clear glass naturally absorbs a ton of energy without reflecting much. Which means your clear glass windows you are looking at replacing are absorbing all of the heat energy from the sun as well as radiant heat from inside, but none of it is being put to use in creating energy efficient windows. Any heat taken in through the glass during the day is being released right back out through the window at night. This is why in some houses a room can be very hot during the day and freezing when the sun goes down. The net result is that we end up using our heating and cooling appliances more than we need to.
To improve this loss of energy, a Low-E window will have a thin film coating applied to the raw glass. This is not a tint added as an afterthought, but is done at the glass manufacturing plant. The Low-E coatings are specially designed to be applied to one or more surfaces of an insulated glass unit. Usually, the glass is coated on the inside of the outer pane for double-pane windows. As seen in the image above, this allows a reflection of the infrared energy, which is meant to keep the energy on the same side it originates from while still letting in visible light.
No matter what type of Low-E windows you get, they will perform better than windows that have only clear glass. Low-E windows are definitely the way to go and will soon be the standard that all builders use.
Whatever type you are replacing your single pane windows with, Window Replacements of Georgia has the options you need to have Low-E windows installed into your home. Wood windows, vinyl windows, aluminum clad windows all can come with Low-E glass that will help keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. They will also protect fabrics, hardwoods and carpet from fading and even improve glare control. When considering ways to make your home more energy efficient, we recommend starting by allowing us to give you a free in-home estimate from Window Replacements of Georgia!
