WINDOW GLASS OPTIONS FOR ENERGY SAVINGS.
Since 80% of a window is glass, real heating and cooling savings come from what is known as “improved glass performance,” not a high R-value on the frame. Marvin windows installed by Twin Cities Siding and Roofing use“Low-E Glass,” the latest technology to improve the performance and the longevity of the insulated glass unit, or glass “package.”
Low-e glass is short for low-emissivity glass. It has a very thin coat of material on the glass to make it more efficient. It helps reflect standing heat away from the surface of the glass, keeping unwanted heat out in the summer and desired heat inside in the winter. Low-e glass is the most cost effective way to increase the energy efficiency of the windows.
Low-e coatings can also help reduce furniture and carpet fading by reducing the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that enters the home. Harmful ultraviolet radiation can alter the chemical structure of dyes and other colorants in carpets and furniture causing fading.
A Low-e glass package consists of two or three panes of glass separated by a sealed chamber of inert gas, usually argon or krypton. This creates a glass “sandwich” that provides substantially more insulating value than a single pane of glass, or even a double-glazed window without the gas pocket. Inert gases like argon and krypton are used because their molecular composition make them particularly effective at blocking energy transfer.
If you see a replacement window that is advertising at a very low cost, beware! There is a good chance that the window’s glass package is low quality and not “Low-e.”
IT COSTS YOU NOTHING TO FIND OUT
Curious about what we can do for your home? Call Twin Cities Siding and Roofing at 651-571-9557 for a FREE, no obligation in-home evaluation and estimate. It never hurts to find out!
