If you’ve been shopping for replacement windows for your home, you probably are familiar with the multitude of choices and options available. One of the most popular today is the “Low-E” designation. Just what is Low-E, and do you need (or want) it?
Years ago window construction was fairly simply – a few pieces of wood enclosing a panel or two of glass. About the only choices you had were size and whether or not you wanted the window to open. Nowawdays selecting replacement windows has gotten a lot more complicated. The good news for Minneapolis/St. Paul area home owners is that Window Outfitters, Inc., the replacement window contractor in the Twin Cities, is very experienced in helping people select just the right windows for their home, their lifestyle, and their budget. We know that while quality matters, the bottom line counts, too. We’re experts at finding the balance.
One way replacement windows can help your bottom line is by reducing your energy bills. There are a number of energy-efficient options available. Low-E coatings are a great way to help save on heating and cooling costs. While those options may cost more up front, you’ll recoup your investment with lower utility bills and increased home value.
The “Low-E” term is quite popular – you may have even seen it in window ads or on labels. But what is it, what does it mean, and how does it affect heating and cooling expenses? Quite simply, “Low-E” means “low emissivity.” That’s a fancy way of saying it doesn’t transmit much energy. “E” ratings combined with reflectivity should equal one. Ideally, surfaces with a high reflectivity have a low emissivity. For example, aluminum foil has an ‘E” rating of .03 and a reflectivity rating of .97. It reflects back 97% of the radiant energy striking it, while only emitting 3%. While that’s great news for cooks, what does it mean for windows?
Radiant energy, in the form of sunlight on the exterior and room heat on the interior, strikes windows. Uncoated glass has an “E” rating of .95. That means normal window glass transmits almost all of the heat striking it. That translates into heat loss from your home in the winter (higher heating bills) and penetrating sunlight (higher cooling bills) in the summer. Low-E coatings are one way to adjust that. Low-E coatings are thin films of metal applied to raw glass. These coatings are virtually invisible and do not block light coming through the window, just heat. Their design is meant to keep the heat on the same side of the window where it originates.
Interested in keeping your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter? Contact the energy-efficient replacement window contractors at Window Outfitters, Inc., today for a free consultation. We have a wide variety of window lines and styles with Low-E coatings. Let us help you find the right one for your home.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
