Low e film improves the energy efficiency of homes by reducing the amount of heat lost from indoors through the windows. Window film with low e properties can be placed on existing windows without having to replace them with low e glass.
Low e film is ideal for buildings in cooler climates such as those experienced in Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria, lower parts of Western Australia and the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, and contributes to improving a building’s 6 Star Energy Efficiency Rating.
Low e Window Film - All Seasons Heat Control
Installing low e window film, also referred to as Summer-Winter film, significantly lowers both your cooling and heating bills. Low e window film is a great energy saving product that insulates your windows, so you save money all year round.
Low e window film is the most cost-effective year round energy conservation window treatment. It will reduce summer solar heat gain by up to 72%. In winter, it will stop up to 24% of the heat inside the building from escaping.
What is Low E?
The ‘E’ in low e refers to ‘Emissivity’, which is a material's ability to emit radiant energy. Materials absorb radiation from other sources and reradiate them at lower wavelengths. Low e materials emit less radiant energy than traditional materials. Usually, the more reflective a material is, the less energy it emits.
What is Radiant Energy?
Radiant energy is energy in the form of electromagnetic waves. A main source of it is the Sun. This energy is categorised by the wavelength of the energy produced. Types of high frequency radiation (short wavelength) include X-rays and UV radiation. Low frequency radiation (long wavelength) includes infrared and radio waves. Visible light is electromagnetic radiation at particular wavelength range.
Infrared Energy
Infrared radiation is the type of electromagnetic energy which we feel as heat. Infrared is categorised into 3 types according to its wavelength: near-infrared, medium-infrared and far-infrared.
How does Low E film help?
Energy from the sun in the form of near-infrared and visible light radiation pass through a window. This energy is absorbed when it hits an object in the room and is reradiated in all directions at lower wavelengths such as far-infrared. Radiant heaters also produce this same kind of energy. The loss of this energy back outside through the windows contributes to the loss of heat in a room during cold weather.
Low e film works by blocking this radiation from being absorbed by your windows, which are then lost to the outside air. As a result, the cost of heating your home or office in winter will be decreased.
Low E Film and Plants
The effect low e film on plants will be negligible in most cases. Unless the film is brightly coloured, (red or blue) there will be no negative impact on the plants. In many cases, you may get improved growth by reducing the excessive heat in hot weather and helping maintain warmth in cold weather.
