The exterior door ensures a modern home’s comfort and savings. Front doors with low-E glass blend elegance with technology, slashing heat loss and trimming energy costs. A unique coating reflects heat, keeping interiors cool in summer and warm in winter, making these models a long-term investment that delivers year-round benefits.
Defining low-E glass: What does “low-emissivity” mean?
Low-E glass is transparent glass with a thin metallic coating that blocks infrared rays.
Standard glass has a high emissivity, meaning it absorbs and radiates a lot of heat (around 91%). Low-E one dramatically reduces this, lowering its emissivity to around 0.1.
How do doors with low-E glass work?
To understand how low-E glass doors work, imagine a thermos that keeps the temperature inside, preventing heat from escaping or entering. Low-emissivity coating works on the same principle: it reflects heat radiation, maintaining a comfortable temperature in the house regardless of the season.
When it is cold outside, this type of glass “returns” the heat emitted by heating devices back inside, and when it is hot, it prevents excess solar heat from entering. At the same time, light and natural brightness remain unchanged, as the coating is invisible to the eye. The result is an optimal microclimate, less strain on heating and air conditioning systems, and significant energy savings.
Blocking UV and infrared rays
Low-E glass acts as an invisible shield, protecting your home from ultraviolet and infrared radiation. UV rays fade paint and damage furniture and flooring over time, while infrared waves penetrate indoors, causing rooms to overheat.
Thus, low-E glass blocks:
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Up to 99% of UV rays.
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Up to 70% of sunlight in summer.
The main advantages of installing doors with low-E glass
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Enhanced energy efficiency and lower utility bills
The reflective coating retains heat in cold weather and blocks excess sunlight in hot weather, reducing HVAC use.
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Improved year-round comfort
These exterior doors maintain a comfortable microclimate in your home, regardless of the weather.
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Protection for your home's interior from UV fading
Low-E doors will always protect your furniture, carpets, and walls from fading while maintaining natural transparency and accurate color reproduction.
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Reduced condensation
Low-E glass minimizes the cold-glass effect and reduces the risk of condensation, thereby enhancing overall energy efficiency.
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Environmental friendliness
It reduces the carbon footprint by lowering energy consumption.
Types of low-E coatings
There are passive and solar control low-E coatings. Both types work on the same principle, but differ in composition, strength, and level of protection.
Passive low-E coatings (hard coat)
Passive or hard coatings are applied to hot glass during the manufacturing process, creating a durable, damage-resistant surface. This type of glass effectively retains internal heat, which is especially essential in very cold climates.
Solar control low-E coatings (soft coat)
The soft or solar control coating is created in a vacuum chamber and consists of several ultra-thin layers of metal. It provides a higher level of solar heat reflection, making it ideal for hot-climate regions.
|
Performance |
Passive low-E (hard coat) |
Solar control low-E (soft coat) |
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Application method |
On hot glass during production |
In vacuum chamber on finished glass |
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Strength |
High, resistant to damage |
More sensitive |
|
Energy efficiency |
Maximum heat retention |
Maximum protection against solar overheating |
|
Light transmission |
Slightly reduced |
High, no loss of transparency |
|
Optimal climate |
Cold, with long winters |
Warm and sunny, with high summer temperature |
|
Main application |
Northern regions |
Southern regions |
Low-E glass vs. Standard clear glass
|
Parameter |
Low-E glass |
Standard clear glass |
|
Energy efficiency |
High: reflects thermal radiation, reducing energy loss and easing the load on heating and cooling systems |
Low: allows heat to pass freely, increasing heating and cooling costs |
|
UV protection |
Reflects up to 99% of ultraviolet rays, preventing fading of furniture and finishes |
Provides almost no UV protection for the interior |
|
Cost |
Higher due to advanced coating technology, but pays off through lower energy bills |
Lower upfront cost but leads to higher long-term energy expenses |
|
Appearance |
Nearly indistinguishable from regular glass, maintaining clarity and natural light |
Completely transparent, without a reflective effect |
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Long-term value |
Significant: increases home energy efficiency and resale value |
Minimal: does not affect energy efficiency or property value |
FAQ
How can I know if I have low-E glass?
If you hold a match or lighter flame to the glass and one of the reflections has a different color (a bluish or greenish tint), then you have low-E glass. However, for safety reasons, it is best to verify the specifications on the packaging or the website.
Does low-E glass have a tint?
Yes, but it is barely noticeable. This tint does not affect the transparency of the glass or the appearance of the door.
Can low-E coatings be added to existing glass doors?
No, because low-E coatings are applied in a factory.