Looking for ways to reduce the heat of the sun inside your house? Wondering if tinted or coated windows will help?

We asked the U.S. Department of Energy for advice about what kinds of new technologies help windows keep heat out of your home.


We know: All About Low-e Tinted Windows

What are low-emissivity (low-e) window glass and films?

Low-e glass and films have been specially developed for residential windows to control the amount of sunlight and heat that enters your home in order to reduce glare, minimize fabric fading and enhance privacy.

What kinds of low-e glass and films are there?

There are basically three:

  • Tinted glass
  • Glass with reflective coating
  • Aftermarket film for existing windows

How does each one work?

  1. Low-e tinted glass is made by altering the chemical properties of the glass. Both glass and plastic laminate may be tinted. Tinted glass can reduce solar heat gain during the cooling season by 25-55%.
  2. Low-e reflective coatings are usually made from a layer of metal molecules in the glass and reflect the solar heat. Any low-e coating is roughly equivalent to adding an additional pane of glass to a window.
  3. Aftermarket film for existing windows is often applied to glass with a water soluble adhesive. They generally last about 8-10 years.

Will these tints and coatings reduce the light in my house?

You can buy some kinds of tinted glass and window coatings that will reduce infrared light (heat), while allowing more visible light to pass through. These are called ‘spectrally selective’ glass, tints and coatings. Sometimes they will also absorb much of the UV (ultraviolet) light passing through the window.



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