What is Low-E Glass?

Building code requires that replacement windows include Low-E glass, which is very efficient at blocking solar heat and reducing damage from UV light. Unfortunately, Low-E glass provides a blue/green coloration to the glass that many homeowners find unattractive. Worse yet, the low-solar Low-E coatings which are designed specifically for the deep south (where the summer heat is the strongest) are the greenest of all. Low-E glass is found in all types of windows: Single-hung windows, Awning windows, Casement windows, Sliding Windows, Picture windows and more.

Looking at this photo, notice that the glass in the windows on the left, with white shutters inside, looks really green and the glass in the windows on the right, with stained wood shutters inside, looks gray or bronze. The glass in these four windows is exactly the same, but it can look very different depending on what is on the interior. Therefore, to minimize the green glass look, choose stained wood shutters, or go with curtains instead of shutters. White plantation shutters will exacerbate the green color in the glass.

Low-e glass is a type of treated glass that conducts visible light while controlling the passage of heat. Low-e stands for low emissivity. This glass is an energy-efficient way to control the heat being allowed in and out of a home or environment. Heat transferred through glass is measured by the U-factor. This is the rate at which glass conducts non-solar heat flowing through it. The lower the U-factor rating, the more energy-efficient the glass. The Low-E glass allows visible light to pass through it but blocks heat-generating ultraviolet light, requiring less artificial heating or cooling to keep a room at the desired temperature.

We have experience with Glass all over the Houston area, including Memorial, Tanglewood, River Oaks, Piney Point, Hedwig Village, Bunker Hill, Spring Branch, Memorial Villages, Hunters Creek, Bellaire, West University, Southside Place, Montrose, Katy, Cinco Ranch, Cypress, Brookshire, Hockley, Waller, Hempstead, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood, Conroe, Magnolia, Montgomery, College Station, Bryan, Huntsville, Spring, Jersey Village, Copperfield, Humble, Lake Conroe, Lake Livingston, Northwest Houston, Fairfield, Braeswood