Is your Houston home struggling to stay cool during the steamy, humid, and hot summer months? Not only can this make relaxing at home virtually impossible, but this can also send your energy bills skyrocketing and your air conditioning system kaput. The problem might just be your residential glass windows, but luckily for you, Buffalo Glass is here to help find the solution to all of your window concerns this summer.
In many cases, traditional glass windows can be the culprit when it comes to letting hot outside air sneak into your home, ruining your cool, crisp air conditioning. By investing in Low-E glass for your residential glass windows, you can keep your energy bills down and your relaxation at its peak, all year long. At Buffalo Glass, we are experts in all things residential glass, so our team is ready to help you learn more about Low-E and what it can do for your Houston home. Our team understands the variety of challenges that Houston residents face every year, including the raging heat and endless humidity. Because of this, we can help keep you cool and comfortable year-round, ensuring a pleasant living space regardless of how hot the weather is outside.
What is Low-E Glass?
Low-E is what many glass professionals call low-emissivity glass. A unique mechanism in this type of glass significantly reduces heat transfer through the pane from the environment or the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. This is done during the manufacturing process, during which a thin, undetectable coating of a transparent, metallic material is applied to the pane. This doesn’t tint the glass or impact its clarity, but instead offers a selective filter that reflects the light wave lengths while still allowing visible light to pass through.
The four types of Low-E coatings for residential glass windows are:
- Passive Low-E: This type of Low-E coating maximizes solar heat within the home. Because of this, passive Low-E coatings are very beneficial for homes in colder climates and can offer significant natural heating during harsh winters.
- Solar control Low-E: For warmer climates like Houston, these coatings are the most popular as they help minimize solar heat passing through windows. They do this by reflecting a higher level of solar radiation, leading to less reliance on air conditioning and overall cooler buildings.
- Hard coat, pyrolytic, Low-E: Hard coats typically are applied during the manufacturing process, while the glass is still hot. Because it is bonded directly to the glass, it can be more durable and suitable for traditional, single pane designs, but doesn’t reflect light as much as soft coat options.
- Soft coat Low-E: Unlike hard coat Low-E, Soft coat is applied after the glass has been manufactured, while it is in a vacuum chamber. Manufacturers often call this a sputter coating. This technique offers better thermal insulation, but is also more delicate, making it only suitable for double or triple-paned glass.
How Low-E Glass Enhances Window Insulation in Houston
There are three primary ways that heat can transfer through a window: conduction, convection, and radiation. Conduction transfers heat or energy from one object to another through direct contact. Convection is the transfer of heat in fluids, caused by the movement of the fluid itself, such as boiling water. Lastly, light waves move heat through radiation. This is the form of heat transfer that Low-E glass can fight, but we also face radiation from microwaves, radios, and even the sun in our everyday lives. This coating acts like a mirror, helping by redirecting the heat in the summer and trapping it during the winter.
Residential glass windows coated with Low-E reflect the light out of the house, keeping it from heating up from the solar radiation. Low-E uniquely combines with various heat-blocking methods for your home, such as double or triple-pane styles and warm edge spacers that prevent hot-air leaks. Because of its wide variety of benefits, Low-E glass can be a great addition to any residential glass window replacement plan.
Energy-Efficient Glass Windows: A Smart Residential Investment
In a hot climate like Houston, AC bills can be extremely expensive, especially in the summer months. Along with costly spending on your AC unit, there is nothing worse than realizing your home is equally as warm inside. It is estimated that installing Low-E coated residential glass windows can save you and your family 30-50% in energy savings per year, proving Low-E glass to be a valuable investment for your home’s energy bill.
Low-E glass coated panes are able to do this by keeping your air conditioning from going into overdrive during extreme weather conditions, like the summer or sometimes the winter. Overworking an AC unit notoriously causes shutdowns, leading to expensive repairs or even replacements. By shifting your reliance away from your AC unit and instead relying more on long-term, preventative approaches, like installing Low-E glass, you can save yourself money in the long run. These significant savings can positively impact your budget, leaving room for more exciting investments in the future.
Along with saving money in the long run, you can also prevent your furniture and flooring from needing premature replacements. Prolonged sun exposure can wreak havoc on your rugs, couches, and wall paint over time. Oftentimes, it results in bleaching or fading. By investing in Low-E coated panes, you can protect your furniture from this and keep it looking brand-new and beautiful for years to come.
Opting for Low-E For Eco-Friendly Home Design
Along with saving you money and helping make your home’s decor more long-lasting, Low-E glass panes can also help you reduce your carbon footprint. On average, an American household will use 10,800 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy per year. This comes down to about 30 kWh per day. The overuse of fossil fuels can have a negative impact on our environment, so by making small, reasonable alterations to your everyday life, you can make a big impact on the earth over time. Even the smallest, simplest step toward energy conservation can help greatly in contributing to a healthier, more sustainable planet.
By opting for Low-E glass and reducing your reliance on your air conditioning, you can help promote sustainable living in your community and contribute to making a difference for future generations. Low-E glass is beneficial not just for your wallet, but also for the environment, which is what makes it a great all-around investment for anyone looking to improve their home’s cooling and their sustainability practices.
Transform Your House and Your Savings with Low-E Glass
Your family’s journey to a cool, comfortable, reliable home climate can start today, with Buffalo Glass. By investing in Low-E glass for your home, you can save money, increase your climate control, and help create a meaningful, lasting impact on the environment. Boost your residential glass window game with Low-E glass and learn why it is the most innovative, simple way to cut back on spending and increase your home’s climate control.
Contact Buffalo Glass today to learn more about your Low-E residential glass window options!
