Low E Glass: What Is It?

Manufacturers in the architectural industry are forever searching for ways to innovate. One of the latest inventions, and indeed a popular one, is low e glass. For anyone seeking to be energy efficient and optimise their internal environment, low emissivity glass is fantastic.

We appreciate, however, that if you are not familiar with this industry, you may be totally unfamiliar with the term. Moreover, the fantastic benefits which it provides may not be so obvious. 

Today, we at Lonsdale Metal are going to explore low e glass in ample detail. For any of our uneducated customers, we want to provide a complete summary of what it is, how it works and, most importantly, what the benefits are. Continue below for more information.

Low Emissivity Glass: An Overview

Before we delve into the benefits and how the technology works, we want to provide a simple summary for anyone who is totally unfamiliar with the product. 

Although the term low e glass (short for low emissivity glass) sounds complicated, the premise is quite straightforward. 

This type of glass is a specialised product which is engineered to reduce heat loss whilst making no compromise on light transmission. You can still experience the same levels of light transmission as normal glass, but low e glass acts as a sort of thermal barrier. 

For those who are serious about energy efficiency, as most homeowners are, it is a phenomenal product. Implemented correctly, it can help to better regulate an internal environment and increase a property’s energy efficiency. Reducing the amount of heat loss through your glazing means you spend less money trying to heat the home, which is something we have explored elsewhere in our blog. Fantastic, right?

How Does It Work?

Because of the nature of the product, and what it is capable of doing, one would suspect that the engineering is highly complex. Whilst this is somewhat true, the premise is, yet again, quite simple. Allow us to explain. 

Essentially, the type of glass benefits from an extremely thin metallic coating. Whilst this coating allows light to pass through, it reflects infrared and ultraviolet rays. The result that buyers are given is windows that are capable of retaining and reflecting heat whilst providing full light transparency. 

Although the premise is simple, it still requires a significant amount of precision engineering in order to create such a product. At this point, we appreciate that you may be wondering what the benefits are beyond reducing heat loss. The truth is, low e glass has a range of fantastic benefits that make it a highly desirable product. We explore them below.

What Are the Benefits of Low E Glass?

 

• Cost Savings (Eventually)

 

The low e glass cost is certainly something to consider, and may render it unsuitable for certain buyers. This is because it costs quite a bit more than traditional glass.

However, there is a silver lining. Although you are likely to pay a higher upfront cost, there are potential energy savings to be made in the future. People who opt to utilise this type of glass have to spend less to heat their home, as heat loss is effectively reduced. 

After a period of time, you may find that you are in a better position financially by making the initial investment in low e glass.

 

• Environmentally Friendly

 

Because of the aforementioned point, this type of glass is environmentally friendly. Better regulation of internal temperatures and reduced heat loss means less money is spent on heating and cooling. 

Electricity generation and boiler usage are key contributors to the current environmental crisis. If we can look for ways to reduce our consumption, we can help the environment. It is that simple.

• Energy Efficiency

We have already touched on this, but the biggest and most significant benefit of this product is how it enables homeowners to be more energy efficient. 

Not only is heat loss reduced, which means reliance on heating systems is minimised, but unwanted heat gain is prevented. This reduces the need for excessive amounts of cooling. 

The above means that money is put back in your pocket and is not spent covering excessive and avoidable energy consumption. 

• UV Protection

Certain rays from the sun are blocked by this type of glass. For example, UV rays, which contribute to furniture deterioration, are obstructed. This means discolouration as a result of UV is less likely to occur, and your furniture is preserved for longer.

Bespoke Glazing at Lonsdale Metal

As a leading supplier, we are available to support customers regardless of the complexity or scale of their requirements. 

Thus, we are dedicated to the creation and delivery of bespoke rooflights for those who want a product that aligns with their unique needs. 

As part of our bespoke package, we have a range of glazing options to choose from. If you would like to better understand the capabilities of glazing, or would like to achieve any of the benefits listed in this article, contact us.