Glass That Provides Comfort and Saves Money

Glass technology has come a long way over the years.

Knowing how specific coating features work can benefit your windows, maximize home comfort levels, and save you time and money! Our latest segment with CTV Vancouver explores this topic and breaks down the key differences when specific coatings are paired with glass.

Over the summer, a lot of homeowners may have experienced a warm night or two. What new technology is available in windows that can help reduce how hot your home gets in the summer?

What many people don’t realize is that new windows don’t just keep your home warmer in the winter, they can also improve the comfort in the summer.  A common complaint we hear from people is about how hot their homes can be. With new glass coating technology, we can reduce how much summer heat enters into your home.  In some cases we have been able to eliminate the need for air conditioning in certain homes as a result as well.  We like to say air conditioning is a Band-Aid solution to the bigger problem. So not only can you get improved summer comfort but reduced energy bills. 

Well, my home was warm this summer so I’m wondering what type of glass I might have in my home. How can someone tell what they have?

The way glass keeps heat in the winter and heat out in the summer is with the use of what we call LoE coatings.  These are microscopic metallic coatings that reflect heat away or back to its source.  So in the winter back into the home and in the summer back outside where it belongs.

The five pieces of glass in our glass all look the same but they perform very differently. The glass on the left is what we find in homes that are dated from about the year 2000 and older and as we move to the right the glass coating technology increases.  The middle of the display is the building code minimum. As we move to the right, the coating options take on additional value in managing summer heat. 

So how do I know which glass is right for me?

There are a few factors that go into the selection of glass.  For example, if you have a lot of south-facing windows, the sun will warm these windows up a lot in the summer, so you likely want one of the 2 glass samples on the right. If you have mostly windows on the north side of the home, the middle glass is going to perform just fine. There is also the option to blend different coatings on different elevations, this will help with optimizing performance. 

The glass on the right represents the future of building codes and because it is not a minimum requirement today, there is a government rebate that is designed to help offset the upgrade costs.  Similar to how there is a rebate to buy an electric car, there is a rebate to install more advanced technology into your home. So not only do you get better energy efficiency, you get a rebate to help pay for it and your home will be even more comfortable for the foreseeable future. 

We are your certified Window Geeks

Centra Windows is not only the manufacturer but also the installer of its product, which enables us to offer a full warranty, eliminating any confusion between product performance and installation. We view the house as a system and understand how each of the elements must work correctly to maximize the comfort and energy efficiency of your home. Contact our local Employee Owners at 1-888-534-3333 or send us an email at info@centra.ca for more information about this topic and many more. You can also sign up for our biweekly newsletter for all the tips and tricks about the window industry.