It’s Getting Hot in Here
Photo courtesy of Forté Homes - Stellar Airpark Estates II
Well, to be honest, it’s getting hot everywhere lately — inside and outside. But it’s no secret that the sun in the Southwest can be particularly brutal, especially in a structure with south- or west-facing windows. Fortunately, Andersen Professional Building Services (APBS) can help with that.
There are a few ways good window construction can offset the effects of radiant heat and thermal intrusion. Obviously, the glass itself is a big factor in terms of how much protection the window provides. Aside from the number of panes (single, double, or even triple) and the type of glass (annealed, laminated, heat-strengthened or tempered), there is also an option for low emissivity — or Low-E — coatings.
Low-E windows reflect away the radiant energy of the sun while letting in the visible light spectrum, protecting interior spaces while still allowing a view of the outdoors. This is accomplished through the application of a reflective coating to the surface of the glass.
The Benefits of Low-E4 Glass
Andersen offers this option, called Low-E4® glass, on all their products. Low-E4 glass works well in any region — keeping excessive heat out in warmer months but holding it in during the winter ones, thereby reducing the energy needed to control the interior climate. This glass consists of two panes separated by argon gas that keeps the heat on the same side of the window from where it originated.
In Low-E4 glass, a reflective coating of titanium dioxide is factory-applied to the exterior surface of the window. When the sun hits, it loosens up any dirt, making it easy to clean. It also sheds water better than conventional glass to reduce rain-spotting. The Low-E4 glass can be combined with one of Andersen’s strong aluminum frames to further reduce exterior maintenance.
Aside from helping control energy costs and minimizing maintenance, Low-E4 glass has a heat-treated interior pane that is breakage-resistant. The double-pane construction also reduces noise, helping keep a home safe, comfortable and quiet.
Click through the gallery below to learn more about Low-E Glass Coatings, the U-Factor and more.
Sun Glass Options
Andersen’s Low-E4 SmartSun™ glass takes it up a notch. In addition to the benefits of Low-E glass, SmartSun also filters out as much as 95 percent of harmful UV rays. These are the rays that will heat up the interior of the home, causing energy bills to skyrocket due to increased needs for air conditioning. Too much UV radiation has also been shown to create health problems like skin and eye damage. Most of us probably get plenty of UV just by going about our daily business, so we don’t need to be soaking up more while we’re indoors. SmartSun glass is also available on all Andersen products.
Finally, there’s Andersen Low-E4 Sun™ glass, which is especially well-suited to our Southwestern climate. Available on many of the Andersen window lines*, it is slightly tinted to further block solar radiation and reduce radiant heat while minimizing glare.
Let Us Help
If your clients are over the heat and looking for a solution to help keep their homes comfortable, check out our products online, tour our virtual showroom, or visit our Phoenix showroom in person. Our experts will help you pick the right customizable products, manage delivery and provide installation services so you can focus on the bigger picture. It may be getting hot out there, but it doesn’t need to be that way inside.
*Available on Andersen E-Series, A-Series, 400 Series, 200 Series and 100 Series products.
