The Difference Low-E Glass vs Clear Glass
Window coatings are a great way to control the energy efficiency of your home. Two of the most common window coatings are Low-E glass and Clear Glass. In this article, we will explore the difference between Low-E glass and clear glass. Please read on to find out more.
The Difference between Low-E Glass and Clear Glass
Here are the main differences between Low-E versus clear glass:
1. Heat Loss
Clear glass reflects far less heat than Low-E glass. This means that clear glass will allow heat to escape more easily in winter and summer. This is because it’s not as transparent to infrared energy coming from outside, which would otherwise be captured inside your home with Low-E glass before it escapes.
2. Solar Penetration
Solar penetration is the amount of sunlight that comes through your windows. The less solar penetration there is, the more comfortable you will be in your home. Low-E glass works by trapping infrared energy inside and reflecting ultraviolet energy outside to reduce solar penetration. However, clear glass has relatively low solar reflection characteristics, so it traps more heat than Low-E glass and reduces solar penetration more adversely.
3. U-Values
U-values, measure the rate of heat loss through a window. The lower the number, the better your windows are at keeping out cold air in winter and hot air in summer. Low-E glass has a very low u-value of around 0.2 or less. Clear glass has a much higher u-value of around 1, meaning it is far less energy efficient than Low-E glass.
4. Visible Light Transmission
Visible light transmission, also known as VLT, is the amount of visible light that comes through your windows. It’s important to consider because lighter colors will allow more light in than darker colors. Clear glass has a much higher VLT than Low-E glass. This means it will let in significantly more visible light compared to Low-E glass.
5. Transparency
Clear glass is transparent, meaning you can see through it easily in most cases. Low-E glass has lower transparency because it has an extremely thin metallic coating on one side that reflects ultraviolet light to reduce solar penetration. For this reason, you probably won’t be able to see anything when looking through Low-E glass because it will likely be covered in condensation from the temperature difference between inside and outside.
6. Price
Low-E glass is more expensive than clear glass. This is due to the extra steps needed to make Low-E coated glass compared to clear glass, which simply involves cleaning and drying before it’s ready for use. Of course, the benefits of clear glass far outweigh those of Low-E Glass because you will be able to see through it easily.
Conclusion
Clear glass and Low-E glass are two different types of window coating. They work in different ways, with clear glass being more simple to manufacture. When it comes to heating and cooling costs, Low-E glass has a significant advantage over clear glass because it can save you money by keeping your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Both clear glass and Low-E glass are important to consider when replacing windows, but Low-E glass will be the better choice to help control energy efficiency levels in your home.
