Low-E Glass: An Overview
Energy-Efficient Glass That Helps You Save Money
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What Is Low-E Glass?
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Enhance Your Home’s Energy Efficiency and Save Money!
Low-E glass windows are a great way to improve your home’s energy efficiency. How much could you save? Move the slider to match your monthly energy bill to get a rough idea of how much you could save each year by switching to ENERGY STAR-compliant windows with low-e glass*:
Based on figures determined by ENERGY STAR when upgrading from a single-pane ‘clear’ window to an ENERGY STAR compliant window that uses low e glass.
Things to Know About Low E Glass
Low-E Glass May Have a Noticeable Tint
Who Makes Low-E Glass Windows & Doors
Passive Low-E vs Solar Low-E Glass
Low-E Glass Helps Reduce Your Energy Costs
Energy Star Requirements and Low E Windows
How to Take Care of Low-E Glass
The Best High Velocity Hurricane Zone Brands
Karoly Windows partners with top-rated low e window manufacturers in Florida to provide homeowners with the best energy-efficient windows for their needs. The top two brands we work with are Simonton and PGT because they’re the top two most consistent brands for energy efficiency.
They not only apply low-e glass to their windows, but they also use vinyl frames and offer options like argon gas fills to further enhance the energy efficiency of the windows. They also extensively test their window products to verify their energy efficiency, earning certifications like the AAMA Gold Label.
Low-E Glass Window Options
Impact Windows
Double Hung Windows
Sliding Windows
Picture Windows
Casement Windows
Awning Windows
Bay Windows
Custom Windows
Protect Your Home Sooner with HVHZ Window Financing
Need to protect your home as soon as possible, but also need to reduce the impact on your wallet? Consider using window financing to cover the cost of installing your high velocity hurricane zone windows.
Karoly Windows partners with GreenSky and Synchrony Financial to provide you with flexible financing options for your window installation, including offers with no down payment, 0% introductory interest, and no payments required for 12 months! Pay off your windows before the introductory period ends, and you won’t have to pay a dime of interest!
We also offer longer-term financing options for those who need to spread out their payments more to fit in their household budget. Get your new windows faster by taking advantage of flexible financing with Karoly Windows & Doors!
0% Interest Financing Options
Two great plans — see which one fits your budget best.
GreenSky 12-Month Plan
- No payments required for 12 months
- Pay it off within 12 months = 0% interest
- $0 Down Payment
- If paying after 12 months → fixed payments over 84 months
Synchrony 24-Month Plan
- Lower monthly payments starting right away
- Pay it off within 24 months = 0% interest
- $0 Down Payment
- Minimum payment ≈ 3% of balance each month
See Your Actual Monthly Numbers
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Get Energy Efficient Doors for Your Home!
Adding low-e glass doors to your home is a great way to enhance its beauty while saving on your monthly energy bill. Pair low-e doors with your new energy-efficient windows to maximize your energy savings for decades to come.
Low E Glass Door Options
Sliding Glass Doors
Standard Sliding Patio Doors
Pocket Sliding Doors
Bi-Parting Doors
Exterior Doors
Entry Doors
Double Entry Doors
French Doors
Going Beyond Low-E Glass to Maximize Energy Efficiency
In addition to using low-e glass to enhance your windows’ SHGC values, there are more energy efficiency enhancements that every homeowner should include in their new windows.
Some of the biggest features to look for when you’re wanting to maximize energy efficiency in your low-e windows include:
- Multiple Layers of Glass. Additional layers of glass with gaps between them can mitigate thermal transfer much more effectively than single thick panes of glass. Thankfully, impact windows inherently have two or more layers of glass, making them more energy efficient.
- Nonmetallic Frames. While metal is incredibly rigid and durable, it also tends to be highly conductive, moving heat easily between the home and the exterior. Using materials with lower thermal conductivity, such as PVC (vinyl), for your window frames helps make your windows more energy efficient.
- Argon Gas Fills. Argon gas is a substance that transfers heat much less readily than regular air because of its higher density. Adding argon gas to the gaps between panes of glass in a window helps to further enhance its insulating properties over a similar window with regular air filling the gap between panes.
- Insulation in the Window Opening. When installing the window, the quality of the installation can have a huge effect on the energy efficiency of the window. The installation process should include a step where the installer puts in insulation around the window frame to fill gaps and prevent air leaks that lead to lower efficiency.
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Low-E Glass FAQs
What Is the Downside of Low-E Glass?
A lot of consumers wonder “what’s the catch?” when they hear about the energy efficiency benefits of using windows with a low-e coating.
The biggest ‘downside’ to using low-e glass windows and doors is that they’ll have a higher upfront cost than identical windows and doors that don’t have the special coating. However, this ‘disadvantage’ is more than balanced out by the long-term savings that installing energy-efficient glass windows and doors can have for a Florida home.
The other downside is that, because the low emissivity properties of this glass is due to a coating, special care needs to be taken to protect the coating. We advise avoiding ammonia-based cleaners and other harsh cleaning chemicals.
Use a lint-free microfiber cloth and wipe the glass gently to avoid damaging the coating.
Which Is Better: Double-Paned Glass or Low-E Glass?
When measuring energy efficiency, a lot of window buyers wonder what provides the biggest bang for their buck: low-e coatings or multi-layered glass windows.
Having two panes of glass (especially with an inert gas fill like argon gas) does a better overall job of insulating the home from outside temperatures. However, low-e coatings are specifically better at reducing solar heat gain for the cost.
In Florida, that would make low-e glass the better overall option… but why not maximize energy efficiency and do both? You can have both low-e glass and multiple panes of glass to make your home as energy efficient as possible.
Many impact windows have two or more panes of glass and other protective materials. Adding a low-e glass film to these windows would help you get the best possible insulation for your home to keep it cool in the Florida heat.
Does Low-E Glass Look Different?
In many cases, yes. While Low-E glass doesn’t block natural light, the coating may give the glass a tinted or slightly reflective appearance. However, some manufacturers specialize in providing near-invisible low-e coatings that don’t impact the appearance of your windows.
Or, you may even want to get a low-e coating that maximizes the reflectiveness to enhance your privacy. It’s your choice. This is why Karoly works with multiple manufacturers to source windows that meet all of your preferences as closely as possible.
How Long Do Low-E Glass Coatings Last?
In most cases, with proper care, a low-e glass coating on a window should last for as long as the window itself. This is especially true in multi-layered glass windows and doors where the coating is on an interior glass pane.
However, improper care can damage the coating. For example, using strong ammonia-based glass cleaning solutions and rough tools to wash the window may strip the coating if touched directly. Be sure to consult with your window installer to get proper care advice for your new windows.
Are There Different Types of Low-E Glass?
Yes. There are many different types of low e coatings for glass from different manufacturers. Some specialize in maximizing energy efficiency, others in making the glass look as clear as possible.
Also, there are two different varieties of low e coatings to know about: Passive and Solar Control.
- Passive Low-E coatings actually maximize the amount of solar energy being transferred into the home, reflecting warmth back inside to heat the house up. This is the kind of coating that would be used in more Northern climates where temperatures are typically lower for most of the year.
- Solar Control Low-E coatings reflect solar heat to keep it outside the home to keep it cooler throughout the year. This is the type of low e coating most often used in Florida since ours is a more tropical climate.
When shopping for low-e windows in Florida, it’s important to look for the solar control type of low-e glass. The passive coating is likely to make your house warmer, which would make your AC have to work harder.
Normally, window manufacturers selling in the Florida market will be offering solar control film-coated glass windows when they talk about their ‘low-e glass’ coatings, but it’s important to verify, especially with some companies that serve multiple markets.
How Much Does Low-E Glass Cost?
The answer depends on the size of your window, the manufacturer, and the grade of low-e coating applied to your window. Adding a specialized coating will increase the cost of your new window or door.
For more specific pricing information, you would need to speak with a window installation expert who knows the size and style of window or door you’re looking to install.
Will Low-E Glass Meet ENERGY STAR Requirements?
Energy Star v7.0 has some strict requirements for windows, doors, and skylights. Using low-e glass in your window or door can help it meet these requirements, but that alone doesn’t guarantee compliance.
When buying new windows and doors, look at the U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) figures for that product to see if they meet the program’s requirements.
For windows in the southern U.S. to meet Energy Star v7.0 standards, they must have a U-factor of 0.32 or less and an SHGC of 0.23 or less. Door requirements would be 0.50 or lower U-factor and 0.25 or less SHGC.
Look for the ENERGY STAR mark on the product and verify it through the Energy Star product finder page.
Low-E Glass vs Clear Glass: Which Is Better?
In terms of energy efficiency, low emissivity (low-e) glass is clearly better than clear glass. It blocks out the UV and infrared light rays that make your house hotter, which means your AC system doesn’t have to work as hard to keep your home cool.
Clear glass lets in the light and the radiation that makes your home hotter. If you want to keep cool, then your air conditioning system will need to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature, raising your energy costs.
In almost all other aspects, Low-e and clear glass are the same. The only ‘advantages’ of clear, untreated glass are its lower initial cost and its clarity. The first will be offset over time as your home energy consumption is reduced by the low-e coating and the latter is a matter of pure personal preference.
For almost every Florida home, we would strongly recommend low-e vs clear glass windows for the long-term savings they can provide.
What Is Low-E Glass Made Of?
There are actually a variety of materials that different window companies use to make their low-e glass, depending on the type of low-e coating they’re making and whether they’re trying to disguise the low-e coat or emphasize it.
Simonton Windows’ proprietary ProSolarⓇ Shield Low-E Glass, for example, uses a silver composite material four layers thick to repel ultraviolet and infrared light rays as well as dust and other contaminants.
However, other common low-e coating materials include zinc, tin, ceramics, and metal oxide, among others. The coatings are often extremely thin, with layers measured in nanometers. Just for reference, a piece of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick.
Why Get Low-E Windows from Karoly?
So, why should you get your new energy-efficient windows and doors from Karoly? It’s because Karoly Windows:
Has 20+ Years of Experience. We’ve worked with homeowners throughout the greater Tampa Bay area for over 20 years, earning accolades and positive reviews for our dedication to quality and service.
Isn’t Beholden to a Single Manufacturer. We work with multiple window and door manufacturers so we can get the best deals on new windows and doors for your needs.
Does the Work the Right Way Every Time. Our installation techs are all in-house employees who are held to our company’s high standards. With Karoly, you never have to worry about an unskilled third-party contractor doing the job incorrectly. You get experienced techs who are on the Karoly payroll.
Specializes in Florida Residential Windows. We’re a locally-owned Florida-based business that specializes in windows and doors made for the Floridian market. We know the Florida Building Code and how to uphold it so you can trust your new windows to last.
Offers a Platinum Standard Lifetime Guarantee. We back every window installation with a lifetime guarantee that includes a 25-year installation warranty and a 50-year material warranty so you can have peace of mind.
Get your energy-efficient windows and doors from Florida’s most trusted window replacement company so you can rest easy knowing that your new windows will protect your pocketbook from rising energy costs for decades to come.
Areas We Serve
Need Low-E windows for your home? Karoly Windows & Doors is here to help! We provide window and door installation services for homeowners in the following areas:
Low-E Glass Window Videos and More
Looking for more information about low-e glass windows and other window-related topics? Subscribe to the Karoly Windows YouTube channel! Here’s a quick example of a video you can find on our YouTube channel:
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