Anything you put between yourself and the exterior will darken the interior of your home, whether it is low E, a third pane, heat mirror, or any other coating, membrane, or glazing.
Triple pane windows can block as much as 60% of the ambient light.
Low E can block a lot of light.
If your home is situated to take advantage of summer shade and winter sunlight, under mature deciduous trees, low E may be a poor glazing choice.
Solar heat gain in the winter can contribute greatly to the comfort of the interior.
If you are totally exposed to the ravages of the summer sun, then low E has some merit, as that sun beating in year-round will fade fabrics and carpets and even wood floor stain.
I would not put low E glass in the home I currently live in, as the deciduous trees allow a fair heat gain from the winter sun while offering shade and cooling in the summer.
When the whiz-bang one-call-closers come to you and tell you they will save you 40% on your energy bill, throw them out.
They lie!
When having replacement windows installed, getting them securely fastened and shimmed square in the opening, with good insulation and caulking around them to stop drafts is probably more important than the choice of window.
Good windows poorly installed, with a healthy draft around them will never offer their potential in comfort or energy savings.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Windows
