 #4: What is Low E and Argon gas?
More Frequently Asked Questions:
1. How do I clean the windows? 2. Window and Door Styles 3. How do I clean vinyl siding? 4. What is Low-E and Argon gas? 5. Who makes our windows? |
 |
 |
You can expect to save 10 to 15 percent of your annual heating costs if you choose Low-E, Argon gas filled windows for your home. Savings may go as high as 25 percent if most of the windows are on the north side of your home.
Wood or vinyl standard double-glazed windows have an insulation value of about R2. Low-E glass and Argon gas increase the R-value by more than 50 per cent. Think of it as adding insulation to the least insulated part of your home.
Low-E and Argon should be specified for all new homes and renovations. Unfortunately, many in the remodeling industry remain unaware of how Low-E and Argon work or the benefits they offer.
Reduces Heat Loss - How it works
Low-E, Argon gas-filled windows lose
less than half as much energy as
standard double-glazed windows. A Low-E coating is applied to the surface of the
glass or suspended between the panes. Low-E glass allows heat in from the sun,
but slows heat from escaping. This is possible because heat radiating from
objects inside the house is on a different wavelength than heat from the sun.
Argon gas is often available as part of a package with any upgrade to low-e glass. Argon replaces the air between the two panes of glass. The Argon is heavier than air and slows the rate of heat loss across the air space.
We may think of the air between the panes of glass as "dead" air but, in fact, it is not. Air rises against the inside, warmer pane and falls when it hits the outside, cooler pane. This process, called convection, "pumps" heat to the outside. Argon slows this method of heat loss.