High-performing Low-E double glazing with SuperTherm™ double glazing.
This article is intended to help explain how Low-E glass works and how choosing from the range of SuperTherm™ options can provide a superior comfort solution for your home.. SuperTherm™ is a new generation of Low-E glass that provides you with superior high-performing double glazing. It is noticeably clearer than traditional window glass, with a nanoscopically thin coating on one side that is indetectable to the human eye. This coating is protected by being sealed inside the double glazing unit and has special properties that act as a filter to let the right light in.
Glass and the Solar Energy Spectrum.
To understand how SuperTherm™ works, let’s look at the “electromagnetic spectrum” from the Sun. This can be more readily thought of as “light”, being the solar energy radiated by the Sun. It has three distinct parts…
UV (ultraviolet light)
UV is invisible. It is good at killing germs (for example, it is good as part of the cleaning process for clothing on the washing line). However, in excess it is not healthy for our skin and it contributes to fading of furnishings.
VL (visible light)
Visible light is the spectrum of light we see as daylight. It contains the full spectrum of colour and is what brings natural daylight into our homes. This daylight also contains some heat energy and contributes to fading.
IR (infrared light)
Infrared is invisible (but we see and feel the effects). It contains lots of heat energy that we feel as radiant heat. Depending on the climate we live in, this heat energy may or may not be wanted. Infrared also contributes to fading.
Glass responds to each part of the solar energy spectrum by:
– reflecting it back into the external environment,
– absorbing it into the glass, or
– transmitting it into your home.
Glass also responds to the solar energy within your home (eg from heat energy produced from people and appliances) in the same way. That is,
– reflecting it back into your home,
– absorbing it into the glass, or
– transmitting it into the external environment.
Different glass products (and thus double glazing) respond differently to solar energy. Thus, the type of glass you choose determines the performance of your double glazing, and directly affects your home comfort.
Traditionally homes in New Zealand were fitted with 3mm or 4mm single-pane glass. This provided shelter from the wind and the rain but it didn’t do much to protect against cold, dampness, noise or fading.
In more recent years, double glazing has become increasingly popular and is now required to be installed in all new home builds due to its improved insulation and energy-saving performance.
What is double glazing?
Double glazing is a sealed unit comprising two panes of glass held apart by a spacer. This spacer has a dual seal applied between the glass and the spacer, and around the back of the spacer, resulting in a hermetically (air-tight) sealed unit. The space formed inside the unit between the two panes of glass is filled with a gas, usually air or argon, which acts as a thermal blanket.
This thermal blanket slows down the movement of heat/cold through the double glazing unit, helping to keep the inside pane warmer. Having a warmer internal pane of glass improves the internal temperature of your home and reduces the chance of condensation forming on your windows.
Understanding Low-E glass.
Low-E (or Low Emissivity) glass contains a coating of tiny (nanoscopic) silver molecules on its surface that changes how the glass responds to a portion of the light spectrum. The coating on this glass acts as a filter to let the right solar energy in whilst rejecting the damaging effects of excessive heat and light.
There are different types of Low-E in the market, all with different appearances and differing levels of performance. Some respond to light such that they can appear “hazy” in direct sunlight, while others maintain a high degree of clarity.
Low-E glass can be categorised into two types, based on its response to light:
– Solar control Low-E glasses – which are designed to transmit high amounts of visible light and reflect solar heat.
– Passive solar Low-E glasses – which are designed to transmit high levels of both solar heat (from the Sun) and visible light.
Selecting the right Low-E glass for the right area of your home can make a significant difference in the resulting comfort levels year-round.
The SuperTherm™ Low-E double glazing range contains an exceptional set of solutions designed to meet the requirements for creating a comfortable environment in the respective areas of your home.
Introducing SuperTherm™ Low-E double glazing.
Superior Low-E double glazing such as the SuperTherm™ range of solutions don’t just affect the energy coming from the Sun into your home, but also the energy within your home. The heat energy generated within your home is at a different wavelength than most of the heat energy that comes from the Sun. SuperTherm™ Low-E double glazing is designed to filter this inside heat energy, keeping it in and contributing to insulating your home more effectively, keeping your home warmer and drier.
All SuperTherm™ Low-E double glazing options have a high level of clarity, ensuring your views are uninterrupted.
We believe that a “cookie cutter approach” to double glazing your home won’t meet your requirements, as different areas of your home have different needs. That’s why retroGLAZE® double glazing solutions have a range of options, giving you greater flexibility to select a solution(s) tailored to your needs.
SuperTherm Warm™
lets daylight and warmth in, and keeps it in
SuperTherm Warm™ double glazing has “passive solar” properties and is designed to maximise daylight and free warmth from the Sun, whilst providing outstanding thermal insulation.
SuperTherm Cool™
lets daylight in while keeping the radiant heat out, and insulates superbly
SuperTherm Cool™ double glazing has “solar control” properties and has been developed for homes where the Sun’s radiant heat causes overheating.
SuperTherm Protect™
SuperTherm Protect™ combines the superior performance of SuperTherm Cool™ with quality laminated glass to provide increased home comfort and protection from noise, fading and external impact, such as extreme winds or burglary.
Remarkable clarity
now you can really enjoy your view
SuperTherm™ double glazing provides impressive year-round performance without compromising the clarity of the glass. Views through the glass will look more natural, closer to what it would look like with no glass, while a whole lot more comfortable.
Outstanding insulating glass
world class double glazing
Glass is a major contributor to heat loss in homes around the world. Significant research and development continues world-wide to develop products that provide a higher level of home comfort through their insulating properties. The performance of SuperTherm™ in its ability to let light in and provide superior insulation is outstanding. We believe it is a world class solution for New Zealand homes.
How does Low-E glass work? SuperTherm™ explained.
SuperTherm™ is a range of high-performing Low-E double glazing. This article is intended to help explain how low-e glass works and how choosing from the range of SuperTherm™ options can provide a superior comfort solution for your home.
SuperTherm™ is a new generation of Low-E glass that provides you with superior high-performing double glazing. It is noticeably clearer than traditional window glass, with a nanoscopically thin coating on one side that is indetectable to the human eye. This coating is protected by being sealed inside the double glazing unit and has special properties that act as a filter to let the right light in.
Glass and the Solar Energy Spectrum.
To understand how SuperTherm™ works, let’s look at the “electromagnetic spectrum” from the Sun. This spectrum can be more readily thought of as “light”, being the energy radiated by the Sun. It has three distinct parts…
UV (ultraviolet) light
UV is invisible. It is good at killing germs (for example, it is good as part of the cleaning process for clothing on the washing line). However, it not healthy for our skin in excess and can cause significant fading of furnishings in our homes.
VL (visible light)
Visible light is the spectrum of light we see as daylight. It contains the full spectrum of colour and is what brings natural daylight into our homes. This daylight also contains some heat energy and contributes to fading.
IR (infrared)
Infrared is invisible (but we see and feel the effects). It contains lots of heat energy that we feel it as radiant heat. Depending on the climate we live in, this heat energy may or may not be wanted. Infrared also contributes to fading.
Glass responds to each part of the solar energy spectrum by:
– reflecting it back into the external environment,
– absorbing it into the glass, or
– transmitting it into your home.
Glass also responds to the solar energy within your home (eg from heat energy produced from people and appliances) in the same way. That is,
– reflecting it back into your home,
– absorbing it into the glass, or
– transmitting it into the external environment.
Different glass products (and thus double glazing) respond differently to solar energy. Thus, the type of glass you choose determines the performance of your double glazing, and directly affects your home comfort.
Traditionally homes in New Zealand were fitted with 3mm or 4mm single-pane glass. This provided shelter from the wind and the rain but it didn’t do much to protect against cold, dampness, noise or fading.
In more recent years, double glazing has become increasingly popular and is now required to be installed in all new home builds due to its improved insulation and energy-saving performance.
What is double glazing?
Double glazing is a sealed unit comprising two panes of glass held apart by a spacer. This spacer has a dual seal applied between the glass and the spacer, and around the back of the spacer, resulting in a hermetically (air-tight) sealed unit. The space formed inside the unit between the two panes of glass is filled with a gas, usually air or argon, which acts as a thermal blanket.
This thermal blanket slows down the movement of heat/cold through the double glazing unit, helping to keep the inside pane warmer. Having a warmer internal pane of glass improves the internal temperature of your home and reduces the chance of condensation forming on your windows.
Understanding Low-E glass.
Low-E (or Low Emissivity) glass contains a coating of tiny (nanoscopic) silver molecules on its surface that changes how the glass responds to a portion of the light spectrum. The coating on this glass acts as a filter to let the right solar energy in whilst rejecting the damaging effects of excessive heat and light.
There are different types of Low-E in the market, all with different appearances and differing levels of performance. Some respond to light such that they can appear “hazy” in direct sunlight, while others maintain a high degree of clarity.
Low-E glass can be categorised into two types, based on its response to light:
– Solar control Low-E glasses – which are designed to transmit high amounts of visible light and reflect infrared light
– Passive solar Low-E glasses – which are designed to transmit high levels of both infrared and visible light.
Selecting the right Low-E glass for the right area of your home can make a significant difference in the resulting comfort levels year-round.
The SuperTherm™ Low-E double glazing range contains an exceptional set of solutions designed to meet the requirements for creating a comfortable environment in the respective areas of your home.
Introducing SuperTherm™ Low-E double glazing.
Superior Low-E double glazing such as the SuperTherm™ range of solutions don’t just affect the energy coming from the Sun into your home, but also the energy within your home. The heat energy generated within your home is at a different wavelength than most of the heat energy that comes from the Sun. SuperTherm™ Low-E double glazing is designed to filter this inside heat energy, keeping it in and contributing to insulating your home more effectively, keeping your home warmer and drier.
All SuperTherm™ double glazing options have an high level of clarity, ensuring your views are uninterrupted.
We believe that a “cookie cutter approach” to double glazing your home won’t meet your requirements, as different areas of your home have different needs. That’s why retroGLAZE® double glazing solutions have a range of options, giving you greater flexibility to select a solution(s) tailored to your needs.
SuperTherm Warm™
lets daylight and warmth in, and keeps it in
SuperTherm Warm™ double glazing has “passive solar” properties and is designed to maximise daylight and free warmth from the Sun, whilst providing outstanding thermal insulation.
SuperTherm Cool™
lets daylight in while keeping the radiant heat out, and insulates superbly
SuperTherm Cool™ double glazing has solar control properties and has been developed for homes where the Sun’s radiant heat causes overheating.
SuperTherm Protect™
SuperTherm Protect™ combines the superior performance of SuperTherm Cool™ with quality laminated glass to provide increased home comfort and protection from noise, fading and external impact, such as extreme winds or burglary.
Remarkable clarity.
now you can really enjoy your view
SuperTherm™ double glazing provides impressive year-round performance without compromising the clarity of the glass. Views through the glass will look more natural, closer to what it would look like with no glass, while a whole lot more comfortable.
Outstanding insulating glass.
world class double glazing
Glass is a major contributor to heat loss in homes around the world. Significant research and development continues world-wide to develop products that provide a higher level of home comfort through their insulating properties. The performance of SuperTherm™ in its ability to let light in and provide superior insulation is outstanding. We believe it is a world class solution for New Zealand homes.
