Low E Glass - Europe's New Standard

By Robert Berge

            Low e glass is quickly becoming the global standard for glass installed in new buildings and replacement glass in existing ones. This is nowhere more true than in the European Union (EU).

            For example, all northern European countries, and some southern ones, have introduced legislation that demands low e glass be installed in all new buildings, while Germany, the UK, and Ireland have made legislation that also requires it to be used for replacement windows. Over the next few years it is expected that most other EU countries will follow-suit.

            The reason the EU has warmed up so well to low e glass is because of its ability to conserve energy and to help the EU meet its Kyoto Protocol commitments. Also, the European Association of Flat Glass Manufacturers recommended policy and legislation to be enacted to make sure that double-glazed low e glass become the standard in EU nations. Apparently, they listened.

            Here’s why:

            Low e glass has the amazing quality to reflect energy (including heat) emissions away from itself. In both the summer and the winter, when heat tries to take the path of least resistance – through the window – low e glass acts as a barrier to an would-be escaping or incoming heat. Thus it reduces heating costs in the winter and air conditioning costs in the summer (as well as the energy consumption that goes along with it).

            With the introduction of low e glass legislation in many EU countries, the EU and the glass industry are setting a world standard in energy conservation.