How Does Glass Effect Energy Efficiency in Replacement Windows?

At first glance, all replacement window glass may look the same. But not all glass performs the same. Renewal by Andersen offers three different glass

options:

• High-Performance™ Low-E4® glass
• High-Performance™ Low-E4® SmartSun™ glass
• High-Performance™ Low-E4® Sun glass

While it can be hard to see the differences in our glass, you will appreciate them. Each glass option provides a varying degree of four unique benefits for heating, cooling, visible light transfer and ultraviolet (UV) protection. The right glass solution for you depends on the climate you live in, the architectural design of your home, the orientation of your windows to the sun, and the “custom climate” you desire in your home. “Glass coatings” are used to create the different glass characteristics.Glass coatings: All of our High-Performance Low-E4 glass features a specially designed glass coating system utilizing state of the art coating technology. On the glass exterior, metal oxide coatings are applied to make the surface easier to clean and reduce water spotting up to 99% when activated by sunlight. This exterior coating causes the water to sheet off the surface. On the inside surface of the exterior glass a light (inside the airspace), spectrally selective multi-layer low emissivity (Low-E) coating is applied. This coating has more layers than standard Low-E coated glass, allowing the system to let in the sun’s rays that are desirable, while reflecting those that are not. This coating maximizes the visible light that comes through, while reducing undesirable solar heat gain that can make you uncomfortable. This Low-E coating bounces the heat back where it comes from. In winter, that means your heat stays inside. In summer, heat from the sun gets bounced back outside.To learn more about glass coating options, schedule a free in-home consultation.