The Benefit of Low-E Glass

Most vinyl replacement windows, including those available from Green T Windows, feature low-e glass, but what is low-e glass and why is it beneficial for your home? In very basic terms, a material that has low emissivity (low-e) absorbs and emits a low proportion of radiant thermal heat or energy while reflecting a much high proportion. New windows generally have film coatings to give them lower emissivity which contributes to less heating and cooling loss and better energy efficiency within a home.

All materials have an emissivity value which ranges from 0 to 1. Materials with a low-e value absorb small amounts of heat while reflecting most of it and materials with a high-e value absorb most of the heat and reflect poorly. Emissivity values represent the percentage of energy absorbed so a material with an emissivity value of 0.05 absorbs 5 percent of the energy while reflecting 95 percent and a material with a high-e value of 0.90 absorbs 90 percent of the energy while only reflecting 10 percent.

Naturally, glass has a very high thermal emissivity value, but applying special thin film coatings to the glass can give it a much lower emissivity value. Low-e glass reflects a high percentage of radiant energy and keeps excess heat from transferring to the other side of the glass. Therefore, low-e glass windows help keep heat inside the home during the winter and reflect the heat from the sun while allowing the light in during the summer to keep the home cooler, ultimately leading to more efficient energy usage and lower bills.

All of the vinyl replacement windows available from Green T Windows feature low-e glass to provide improved energy efficiency. The low-e coating also reduces water spots for easier cleaning and maintenance. Contact Green T Windows to learn more about the benefits of low-e glass and our vinyl replacement windows.

Stay Cool in the Summer Heat with Our Vinyl Replacement Windows

When the hottest weeks of the summer hit, many seek refuge in their own homes with air conditioning. Air conditioning alone generally accounts for around 10% of yearly energy costs and leaky, inefficient windows can cause cool air to seep out which will force the air conditioner to work harder and result in higher energy bills. Replacing old windows with more efficient windows can help lower energy costs and increase the efficiency of your air conditioner, keeping your house cooler in the summer. The replacement windows from Green T feature Low-E glass and vinyl frames which help increase cooling efficiency by reducing heat radiation and leakage.

All of the replacement vinyl windows available from Green T Windows are Energy Star qualified and feature Low-E glass. Low-E, or low-emittance glass, reduces the transfer of heat into a home by cutting out solar radiation which can account for up to 2/3 of total energy loss. An almost undetectable layer of metal or metallic oxides in the glass helps reflect heat radiation while allowing the light from the sun to pass through. Therefore, a room can still fill up with natural light without being warmed up by heat radiation, resulting in more efficient cooling and less work from the air conditioner.

Replacement vinyl windows can also help increase the cooling efficiency of your air conditioner this summer by forming a tight seal to reduce leakage. Windows with a poor seal allow air from inside a home to seep out which can lower the efficiency of heating and cooling. Vinyl window frames form a better seal between the glass and the frame than wood or metal frames and they last much longer. By forming a tight seal, vinyl replacement windows reduce leakage which will help keep in the cool air during the summer as well as the warm air in the winter.

If your energy bills are rising this summer due to inefficient cooling, vinyl replacement windows could help increase your energy efficiency. The majority of cooling loss is through radiation and leakage and vinyl replacement windows alleviate these problems with a tighter seal and Low-E glass which cuts down on radiant heat. Contact Green T Windows to discuss the benefits of vinyl replacement windows and get the most out of your air conditioner to stay cool in the summer heat.