Double glazing helps keep your home warmer during winter and cooler in summer. There are some modern glass types that can enhance the thermal effects of double glazing. This type of glass is known as Low e glass and offers a reduction in heat loss varies from 54% to 64%.
One of the reasons a lot of people choose to use double glazed windows in their home is for the thermal benefits. The layer between the two pieces of glass creates a barrier to keep the cold temperatures on the outside from affecting the climate on the inside. The loss of heat through a double glazed unit can be over 54% less than through a single glazed window. There are superior glass options that can improve the thermal efficiencies (such as Low-E glass) and argon filled units, reducing the heat loss through your windows up to and greater than 70%. Low E, or Low Emissivity glass,reflects long wave radiation keeping the heat inside the home. Low E and argon filled units are installed at The Lighthouse Estate villas.
In the same way that the insulating layer of double glazing helps keep the cold temperatures out, it also reduces the impact of hot temperatures. Thus, the benefit for you is that your home will be noticeably cooler in summer. The shift from single glazing to standard double glazing will reduce the solar heat gain through your windows by around 13%. By using glass with improved thermal properties (such as Low-E glass) and tinting, the reduction in solar heat gain through your windows can be greater than 50%.
Condensation forms when cold air meets with a warm surface. The argon gas in between the glass keeps the inside glass at room temperature thereby virtually eliminating condensation and dampness within your home. Many existing homes have problems with condensation on the inside of their windows during winter. This condensation is usually the result of warm humid air condensing on the relatively cold surface of single pane glass.
With double glazing, there is improved thermal insulation between the outside and inside due the gap between the glass layer. As a result, condensation is greatly reduced.
With two layers of glass noise is diluted as it passes through these and the argon filled gap. Double glazing maintains a quieter environment to live in. Depending on the type of double glazing selected noise reduction can vary from 20% to 77%.
Double glazing glass is harder to break than a single pane of glass. When broken, the shards normally stay in place. The result is improved security.
Laminated glass offers greater protection for people and property by providing an effective barrier from attack. Although the glass will break if hit with a hammer, brick or similar object, the inner layer can resist penetration, ensuring any attempt to enter a premise in this way will be slow and noisy. In addition the attacked glass will tend to remain in the opening, keeping wind and rain out of the building until it can be replaced at a convenient time.
Using glass that deflects UV rays is as if you have applied sunscreen to your windows. No more faded upholstery and sun damage to your furnishings. Ultraviolet or UV as we know it causes the fading of furniture, furnishings and carpets. Double glazing provides the benefit of reducing the amount of UV light that can get inside. The optimum benefits occur with laminated glass which reduces the penetration of UV rays by 95%. Tinted glass also offers benefits in reducing the penetration of UV light.
