WHAT EXACTLY IS LOW E GLASS?

Low “E”: Low-emissivity glass is coated with a microscopically thin metallic layer that allows visible light to pass through, while blocking ultraviolet and infrared solar energy and reflecting away long-wave room-side heat energy. Different types of Low “E” coatings offer varying levels of performance for each of these tasks.

LowE glass Helps Save Energy Costs:
Whether your winters are snowy and long, or the sun rides high every day, LowE glass balanced performance can help reduce the cost of keeping your home comfortable.

How It Works:
In cooler conditions, the lowE coating reflects heat back into your rooms, while allowing a high level of visible light to pass through and be absorbed to add desirable extra heat to the room. In warmer conditions, the lowE coating reflects away both solar radiation (direct from the sun) and absorbed heat energy (as from a driveway), yet still allows visible light to pass through.

If all residential windows in the United States were replaced with ENERGY STAR qualifying vinyl windows, the nation would save $134 billion in energy costs over the next 15 years. Using new technology in frame materials, glass coatings, design, and gas fills, today's ENERGY STAR qualified vinyl windows, doors, and skylights help achieve significant energy cost savings.

Benefits of ENERGY STAR:
ENERGY STAR qualified vinyl windows today are, on average, twice as efficient as the average window made ten years ago. ENERGY STAR qualified vinyl windows, doors and skylights can help reduce your energy bills up to 15%. Over the lifetime of a typical vinyl window, the return on investment can be substantial and as an added benefit, saving energy prevents pollution. ENERGY STAR qualified vinyl windows, doors and skylights also provide a host of benefits, including: increased comfort, noise reduction, and protection against sun damage to carpet, wood floors, furniture, fabrics and artwork in your home.

Earning the ENERGY STAR:
To achieve maximum energy and pollution savings, keep these things in mind when shopping for windows, doors or skylights:Performance is based on the following factors:U-factor: The rate of heat transfer either from your home or the outside through your window, door, or skylight. A lower U-factor means less heat is transferred. Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC): How much heat your house gains from the sun. A lower SHGC results in less heat gain from the sun. Vinyl Windows, doors and skylights are tailored to fit the energy needs of the country's four main climate regions: Northern, North/Central, South/Central, and Southern. All ENERGY STAR qualified vinyl windows, doors and skylights also bear a label from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), which provides independent energy performance ratings by product for U-factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, and Visible Transmittance.