Any homeowner that has looked into new windows, considering energy-efficiency credits, or looking to make vast improvements to their windows have heard the term Low-E. But to the average person, it doesn’t really mean anything. The truth is, nearly every window brand (and sales staff member) mentions but doesn’t give it an explanation that does it justice. Here at Greenlight in Chicago, we consider ourselves the window film experts–so we use the phrase a lot too. But we try to give customers some reference as to what Low-E Film is and why it is so great for homes. So, to circle we decided to write a little bit more so our future clients really understand what they are buying with a Low-E window film and what Low-E windows are compared to Low-E Window film–because their performance is very different.
Low-E Window Film vs. Low-E Glass
Low-E means “low emissivity”. But that is hard to say and not very “salesy”. To be more specific the term refers to the emissivity or travel or heat through the glass. If the “emissivity” is lower than the industry standard rating of .33–the glass of film is referred to as Low-E. To really be Low-E glass or window film they need to perform below a .33 in insulating and rejecting heat level which in turn saves energy, which in turn saves you money. But let’s compare the two because they are not the same. When looking at cost, the winner in the price department Low-E window film. When comparing performance, today’s Low-E window films have ratings as low as 0.07. This means they reject a whopping 93% of heat reflected from coming into your home. This adds up to a whole lot of energy savings. Even the very best and most expensive Low-E glass windows don’t perform nearly as well. In fact, the most effective LOW-E windows only perform the same as a mid-level Low-E window film. Think about how much more windows cost and the difference is stark! Low-E windows cost 0x more–not including custom-sized windows that will drive the price up dramatically. Also having new windows installed is a big hassle. Window Film takes a day. Therefore, if you are looking to stay on budget, conserve energy, and pay less money on bills–Low-E window film is the best choice.
Other Benefits of Low-E Window Film
The money-saving benefits of Low-E window film are pretty great. But there are even more benefits to this modern technology as well.
- Improved comfort: Low-E films make the temperatures in and around windows more comfortable by making them more even.
- Reduced glare: Better screen clarity and views of the gorgeous Miami cityscape. In fact, some people even say their views of the outside are better after film.
- Energy savings: The savings on the HVAC bill is up to 29% annually depending on the brand of film you have applied.
- Reduced solar heat gain: Heat rejection is proportional emissivity level of your windows–film gives more rejection than Low-E glass.
- Increased safety: Windows treated with film are harder to break and crack into smaller, less dangerous pieces–making them more safe and secure.
Low-E window film compared to Low-E glass provides many distinct advantages: cost, appearance, efficacy, and quite a few other benefits! To find out more about this technology for your Chicago home or business, contact us at Greenlight today for pricing!