“Low-E” Windows Maximize Buildings’ Energy Efficiency (photo: EWC)

Low-E stands for low emissivity, and these windows are constructed to minimize heat transfer through the glass. Since windows are essentially huge holes in the walls of a building, choosing a low-E window design that’s appropriate for local climate and architecture can greatly increase a structure’s thermal efficiency, while reducing energy use and utility costs.
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Although windows can naturally heat buildings in the cold seasons, during the summer they can easily overheat a building. To help with this problem, Japanese scientists at AIST recently developed a thin film which can make transparent glass turn into mirrors. The use of such a window in buildings or automobiles could reduce the energy consumed by air conditioners by more than 30%. The scientists, Kazuki Yoshimura and Shanhu Bao developed the thin film material. Previous research works have focused on the use of thin films made of magnesium-nickel alloy that behave as switchable mirrors: these, however, all have a yellow tinge in their transparent state.

The switching mechanism in Yoshimura and Bao’s window, is created by altering the gas content between the two glass panes. By introducing a small amount of hydrogen into the atmosphere between the panes, the glass acts as a transparent window. Alternatively, adding a small amount of oxygen with no hydrogen forms a reflecting mirror.

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1. “Low-E” Windows Maximize Buildings’ Energy Efficiency Low-E stands for low emissivity, and these windows are constructed...

The active glass has a special nano-scale (extremely thin)
coating of microcrystalline titanium oxide which reacts to daylight. The
reaction breaks down dirt on the glass, and when the water hits the glass
the dirt slides off.

The chemical used — titanium
dioxide is a fairly benign compound found in toothpaste and paint.

The
glass is slightly more expensive that conventional glass, adding about
15-20% to the cost of installation. However,
it also provides an approximate
20 percent reduction in ultraviolet light transmission over
clear glass and equivalent energy efficiency.

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1. “Low-E” Windows Maximize Buildings’ Energy Efficiency Low-E stands for low emissivity, and these windows are constructed...