Glass Options
Energy Efficient Glass Options
All Weather Windows provides many options to help maximize the energy efficiency of your windows. Dual Pane, Tripane, Argon gas,
Low-E and SunStop options all offer greater energy efficiency, which in turn, pass on savings to the home owner.
 |
Dual clear glass means your window has 2 panes of glass with no special coatings applied to the glass.
The dual panes of glass are spaced about 1/2 inch apart, and the air in between the two panes of glass
acts as an insulation barrier, making your windows more energy efficient.
|
 |
Even better that dual pane is Tripane glass. Tripane features 3 panes of glass, each spaced about 1/2
inch apart, providing for even more insulation power than dual pane. Tripane also has excellent sound
barrier characteristics, giving you added privacy and energy efficiency.
|
 |
Special features can be added to your Dual or Tripane glass to increase energy efficiency. One such
feature is Argon gas.
Argon gas is used to fill the space between panes of glass, which are called “sealed units”. Argon gas
which is inexpensive, non-toxic, nonreactive, clear, and odorless is heavier than air and inert, it only moves
under pressure, and so minimizes convection currents which can occur inside the sealed unit. This
reduces the tendency for windows to collect frost, starting at the bottom of a window and gradually move
upwards, on cold winter days, as the argon gas evenly distributes the temperature inside the sealed unit. |
 |
Low-E is a coating that can be applied to the glass to make it more energy efficient. Low-E stands
for “low emissitivity”. It basically means that the heat energy generated by your furnace in the
winter will be reflected back into your home.
Low-E is used because it has a neutral appearance when viewed from the outside and inside and when
combined with Dual or Tripane glass can offer between 35%-105% better insulating values than non Low-E glass.
|
 |
SunStop uses two layers of Low-E laid over top of one another to block out the Sun’s energy, reflecting
heat while still allowing a maximum amount of visible light into the house. This keeps your home cooler
during the summer. SunStop coatings also help keep your home warmer in the winter by increasing R
Values, as compared to clear glass. |
No. Low-E only adds about 10% to the cost of an average window package. SunStop costs a little more but provides better performance.
