Low E Glass vs Clear Glass for St. Pete
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What Are the Differences between Low E vs Clear Glass?
Low-E glass is glass that has been specially coated to enhance its energy efficiency characteristics. It’s a shortening of the phrase “low emissivity,” which describes how the glass prevents the transmission of heat.
Clear glass, on the other hand, is untreated. It does not have any special coatings or characteristics beyond what’s inherent to the glass itself.
Things to Know About Low E Glass
Who Makes Low-E Glass Windows & Doors
There are many companies that make Low-E coated glass for the Florida market. Two of the most popular manufacturers that we work with are Simonton and PGT Windows, though there are others.
Low-E Glass Helps Reduce Your Energy Costs
Because Low-E windows help reflect away the sun’s heat from your home, your air conditioning doesn’t have to work as hard. This, in turn, helps you reduce your monthly energy costs for your AC system.
Energy Star Requirements and Low E Windows
Low-E coatings are not a requirement for Energy Star, per se. However, they are a common feature of Energy Star-compliant windows and doors, as they help reduce thermal transfer.
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Low E vs Clear Glass for Doors
For a lot of homeowners, the doors to their homes can be a major energy efficiency blindspot. However, your doors can be a huge part of your home’s energy efficiency–especially your sliding glass doors or doors that incorporate large glass panes.
Using Low-e glass for your St. Pete home’s doors can help you save more money on your energy bill while enhancing curb appeal.
St. Pete Low E Glass Doors
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St. Pete 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 low-e coating.
Which Is Better: Double-Paned Glass or Low-E Glass?
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.
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.
In general, using a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth with a mixture of 10:1 mix of water and vinegar should be safe for cleaning low-e coated 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.
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.
Reasons to Get Low-E Windows from Karoly
So, as a St. Pete homeowner, 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 St. Pete’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.
Other Areas We Serve
Need Low-E windows for your home? Karoly Windows & Doors is here to help! Here are some of the other areas we serve:
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