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A Guide to Glass Options for New and Replacement Windows

The style of a windows' glass affects both its price and energy efficiency. This article discusses several window styles and their characteristics.

While many homebuyers initially concern themselves with the aesthetics of new and replacement windows, size and shape are not the only considerations. While most windows are made of glass, the characteristics of these panes have a tremendous impact on both cost and energy efficiency.

Here are several glass options available to home builders and some of their characteristics:

Single Glass Windows: This basic type of window contains just one pane of glass in each panel. Because this style translates to very little energy efficiency, single glass windows are used less often than in the past.

Double Glass Windows: Also called insulated glass, double glass windows are composed of 2 panes of glass with a space in between. This air space cuts the heat transferred from the interior of the home to the exterior almost in half. Sometimes a special gas, such as argon, fills this space as it can increase the insulating value of the window by about 3-5 percent without spending a substantial amount of money.

Low E Windows: Meaning low energy, Low E is a metallic coating put onto the inner surface of the outer pane of a dual glass window, reflecting most ultraviolet and infrared rays. This can improve the overall energy efficiency of the glass by 15-30 percent and reduces solar heat gain. Most window manufactures are now using Low E^2 (or Low E squared), which as improved multicoated version of this type of coating.

Tinted Glass: Window Glass can be ordered in a number of different tints, which are mainly applied to reduce sun glare. While tinted glass does reduce solar heat gain, it does not insulate as well as Low E-type coatings.

Tempered Glass: Tempered glass, also called safety glass, does not break as easily as non-tempered glass.

Obscure Glass: Obscure glass window panes are typically used when one does not want a window to be easily recognized, such as most bathroom windows. There are a number of different styles of obscure glass.

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