How do solar control coatings work?
A: A special metallic coating is applied to one side of the glass to reflect and absorb heat energy. Please see the graphic below for a simple explanation of how the coatings work on a insulated glass unit.
The perfect combination of features would include self-cleaning glass on the outside face of the unit (1). The inner surface of the outside pane (2) would be solar control glass. This would ensure that the room does not become too hot in the warmer months. Between the double glazing, an inert gas called argon is used to act as a further barrier to prevent heat loss in the colder months. (Within the cavity you will also find your Saveheat stamped spacer bar – your guarantee of a premium glazing product). The argon gas works in conjunction with the other inside pane of the glass unit (3) – glass with low – emissivity to improve the thermal performance of the unit when the weather is colder. The internal face (4) of the glass would be untreated glass.
Can I combine self-cleaning and solar control properties?
A: Yes – all Supaseal products are made to a clients exacting requirements. In this instance, the glass is dual-coated on both sides of the glass.
What is a U-value? [can we lift this from the earlier pages, please] A: A ‘U’ value is a measure of heat loss from a building. The lower the value the better the performance. To illustrate, the U-value of single clear glass is 5.4. Installing double glazing can improve the U-value to 2.6. Add to this features available from Saveheat, such as argon gas between the glass of the unit with low emissivity glass used and the U-value goes down to 1.6.
(Source: www.greenconsumerguide.com)