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| Low-E Glass |  |
Low-E
glass is a type of glass that has a special coating on it. The coating
is applied to make the glass more energy efficient. However, not all
low-E glass is created equal.
The type of low-E used is very important. In fact, some popular brands
of low-E glass can actually be less energy efficient than clear glass
because they block more passive solar heat than their lower U-values
save!
There are two things to consider when it comes to analyzing low-E glass; they are U-value and solar heat gain coefficient. U-value is a measurement of the ability of a material to conduct heat (R-value is the opposite- it measures the ability to resist heat transfer). Products with a lower U-value provide greater resistance to heat flow and better insulation value- so the lower the number, the better.
The solar heat gain coefficient is equally important. It is a method of quantifying how much beneficial solar heat is transmitted from the outside to the inside of a house through a window. Products with a lower solar heat gain co-efficient transmit less heat from the sun into your home. Therefore, in climates like Canada’s, where we tend to heat our homes more than we cool them, a product with a higher heat gain co-efficient is better.
It stands to reason, then, that in order to accurately determine the true thermal performance of glass (and therefore the impact that it will have on the homeowners heating bills), it is necessary to consider both the U-value and solar heat gain coefficient together.
The low-E product with the best overall performance for the Canadian climate is Pilkington Energy Advantage Low-E glass. It has a low U-value measurement coupled with a very high solar heat gain co-efficient and it’s the only low-E glass product that FM Industries Inc. uses in its windows!
Why Smart Homeowners Buy Windows With Pilkington Energy Advantage Low-E Glass
- .
Energy Advantage Low-E glass reduces heat loss to the cold outdoors by dramatically reducing radiant heat transfer and actually reflecting interior heat back into the room -
In addition to it’s low U-value, Pilkington Energy Advantage Low-E glass is optimized for winter performance and has a high shading coefficient. Compared to other low-E glass products with lower shading coefficients, Pilkington Energy Advantage Low-E glass allows more of the sun’s rays to enter a home as solar energy to be converted into useable heat in winter. -
The same effect of keeping interior heat inside in the winter helps reduce the flow of hot outside air into the cooler interior in summer.
The bottom line is that Pilkington Energy Advantage Low-E glass helps reduce the number of heating and cooling Btu’s needed to keep a house at a comfortable temperature. That means furnace and air-conditioning systems work less and that can add up to significant energy savings.
Pilkington Energy Advantage Low-E glass significantly reduces transmission of the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays, one of the leading causes of premature fading and degradation of fabrics, upholstery and carpeting.
No one enjoys sitting near a cold, drafty window in winter. Pilkington Energy Advantage Low-E glass works to raise the inside glass temperature in winter, to help minimize cold spots and keep you more comfortable.
Since Pilkington Energy Advantage Low-E glass helps keep the inside glass surface temperature warmer, you can enjoy a more comfortable, higher humidity level with greatly reduced condensation and fogging.
Because Pilkington Energy Advantage Low-E glass is an energy-efficient, high performance glass, larger window and glass areas can be used, without the resulting excessive energy costs.
Pilkington Energy Advantage Low-E glass is one of the most colour-neutral brands of low-E glass available. So, you can enjoy the great looks as well as the great performance of windows made with Pilkington Energy Advantage Low-E glass.
