Low E Replacement Windows
Citywide Construction San Antonio
Low Emissivity
To make low-e glass, certain properties such as the iron content may be controlled. Specially designed coatings, often based on metallic oxides, are applied to one or more surfaces of insulated glass. These coatings reflect radiant infrared energy, thus tending to keep radiant heat on the same side of the glass from which it originated, while letting visible light pass. This often results in more efficient windows because: radiant heat originating from indoors is reflected back inside, thus keeping heat inside in the winter, and infrared radiation from the sun is reflected away, keeping it cooler inside in the summer.
Reflective Insulation
Reflective insulations are typically fabricated from aluminum foils with a variety of core materials such as low-density polyethylene foam, polyethylene bubbles, fiberglass, or similar materials. Each core material presents its own set of benefits and drawbacks based on its ability to provide a thermal break, deaden sound, absorb moisture, and fire safety. When aluminum foils are used as the facing material reflective insulation can stop 97% of radiant heat transfer. Recently, some reflective insulation manufacturers have switched to a metalized polyethylene facing. The long-term efficiency and durability of such facings are still undetermined.
Reflective insulation can be installed in a variety of applications and locations to include but not limited to; residential, agricultural, commercial, and industrial structures. Some common installs include house wraps, duct wraps, pipe wraps, under radiant floors, inside wall cavity’s, roof systems, attic systems and crawl spaces. Reflective insulations can be used as a stand-alone product in many applications but can also be used in combination systems with mass insulations where higher R-values are required.
