How Your Windows Could Be
Turning Up the Summer Heat
Do your windows sometimes make your cozy abode feel like a sauna? You're not alone. Those innocent-looking panes of glass can actually be major culprits in cranking up the indoor temperature. It's all thanks to something called solar heat gain.
The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) is a measure of how much solar radiation passes through a window. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat it transmits. The type of glass used in windows can significantly impact solar heat gain.
In the battle against the sizzling sun, there's a hero in disguise: Low emissivity (Low-E) coatings. These glass surface coatings are virtually invisible layers of metallic oxide that reflect infrared heat while still letting in all that glorious natural light.
While Low-E coatings have been around since the disco era, advancements in technology have improved their performance, durability and affordability, making them a standard feature in any modern window. If you have uncoated, single-pane, leaky windows, you're paying an extra pretty penny for your AC to work overtime and keep you comfortable in your home.
