A ton if companies out there claim to have energy efficient Windows, as do we, but what does that mean exactly? It means different things at different companies. But all energy efficient widows have Low-E Glass.
What is Low-E Glass? Low–E, or low-emissivity, glass was created to minimize the amount of infrared and ultraviolet light that comes through your glass, without minimizing the amount of light that enters your home. Low–E glass windows have a microscopically thin coating that is transparent and reflects heat.
So, you now know what main component all windows must have to be considered energy efficient. It is this formula of coating on the glass that varies between window companies. For instance, most new build companies choose to go with the a lower grade Low-E Glass. This saves them on costs, but this glass has just enough coatings to be considered “Energy Efficient.” You just won’t get the same window in a new build that other companies, like us, could provide you with.
What goes into measuring the energy efficiency of a window? That has something to do with a measuring standard called U-Factor or U-Value. A U-Value is defined as: a measure of the heat transmission through a building part (such as a wall or window) or a given thickness of a material (such as insulation) with lower numbers indicating better insulating properties. A lot of things, not just the coating can contribute to better lower U-Value figures. This includes;
Gas insulation between the glass
Frame
Foam on the sides of the windows
Layers Of Coating On The Glass
We at Conservation Construction take Energy Efficiency quite seriously and don’t skimp on what’s important. That’s why we have LoE-366 Glass. It work better than normal Low-E glass almost making regular Low-E glass seem inefficient. This meaning we include 4 Layers of protective coating on our glass that protects, but doesn’t obstruct views. Our coating has multiple layers to bounce harmful UV rays back out instead of penetrating into the home. This unique formula gives us one of the lowest U-Values on the market today. We also include Lifetime Warranties that back all of our products up to ensure they do last a lifetime. Our personal goal is to make sure these are the last windows you’ll ever need to buy.
Additionally we do provide the most unique gas formula on the market which includes a Krypton and Argon combination. This combination has been proven to work better at insulating than just air alone. It is also better than typical Argon Only Gas Fills which other companies use.
Finally, we are one of the few companies who fill the top and sides of our frames with foam to ensure that they are energy efficient on all sides. This foam doesn’t allow cold or heat to pass through easily, and gives the window a more stable frame temperature all year round. All our windows are vinyl frames which have better thermal performance than the old aluminum which tended to absorb the heat from the sun.
In conclusion, remember that an energy efficient window must have Low-E Glass. What this “Low-E” Formula means for each company is different. To get the most energy efficient window make sure you look at the overall U-Value of the window, and remember the lower the number the better. Finally, make sure whichever window company you choose includes some sort of gas fill.
We encourage all of you to comment below what you think the coolest feature of energy efficient windows are. As always, thanks for reading and we appreciate your attention throughout this article. See you next time!