Smart Glass for Weatherproofing Homes

Smart glass is changing how we keep our homes safe from bad weather by cutting how much energy we lose through windows. This can be up to 30% of home energy use. This special glass can change with light, heat, and power. It helps save energy, keeps heat in, and stops UV rays. It can cut the need for cooling by 20% and stop over 95% of UV light. But, it's costly - between $50 to $250 for each square foot - making it a top-end choice. Other types like double-pane glass and Low-E glass are good, cheaper ways to save energy and fight the weather.

Here’s a quick look at the three:

Feature	Smart Glass	Double-Pane Glass	Low-E Glass
Energy Savings	Up to 20%	So-so	30–50%
UV Protection	More than 95%	About 55%	Up to 70%
Durability	20–30 years with care	Lasts long with care	Lasts long with care
Cost	$50–$250 for each sq ft	$10–$15 for each sq ft	Changes, fair cost
Water Resistance	Top notch with sealing	Good with good seals	Good with good seals

For those who want the best in new energy control and ease, smart glass is a top pick. But, two-layer and Low-E glass are still useful and easy on the wallet for most who own a home.

Is Smart Glass Waterproof? How to Protect Smart Film and Glass from Water Damage.

1. Smart Glass

Smart glass is a top tech fix that shifts to fit the changing weather, setting it apart for keeping things dry and safe. Unlike old windows that stay the same, smart glass changes how it works all day using power or outside forces. This shift boosts how well it saves energy, keeps warm, blocks noise, lasts long, and keeps out water.

Energy Efficiency

Smart glass helps save power by managing how much sun and heat come into your home. It can up energy saving by to 20%. When it's hot, it goes dark to cut down sun heat, which lowers the need for air cooling. In cold times, it lets more sun in, warming your space on its own and cuts down on fake heat. Also, smart glass shifts its shade based on sun strength, making sure rooms are bright but not too sharp. This saves power and keeps rooms nice to stay in.

Thermal Insulation

By handling sun heat, smart glass keeps indoor temps steady, easing the work on HVAC systems. More than just temp control, it also blocks sound way better than old glass, keeping noise out.

Durability

Lasting long matters in keeping the weather out, and smart glass is made to endure. Top-end smart glass set-ups can work well for 20 to 30 years, lasting up to 100,000 hours. Its build has a switchable layer in between two strong safety glass pieces, so it's better at keeping out water than smart film. This tough make lets it face harsh weather, like high heat, wet air, and UV rays. Plus, it stops 99% of bad UV and infrared light, keeping your home, people, and furniture safe, all while you can still see out.

Water Resistance

The tight make of smart glass makes it really good at keeping out water, key for keeping dry in wet or humid spots. Expert setup makes sure edges are fully sealed to stop water from getting in. To keep it working right, clean it often with gentle, no-ammonia stuff and check seals now and then. By looking after it well, smart glass stays strong against various weathers for many years.

2. Usual Two-Glass Sheets

Two-glass sheets have long been a top pick over one-glass sheet for many. This well-known style has two pieces of glass with still air in the middle, which helps control heat flow and guards your place from outside stuff. While it lacks the cool parts of smart glass, two-glass sheets keep cutting down energy costs and stay a solid pick for keeping homes safe from weather.

Warm Keep

Two-glass sheets do a great job at keeping a comfy feel inside all year. Its two-sheet setup makes a tough wall, cutting down heat loss up to 50% more than one-glass windows. The air in the middle, oft filled with argon or krypton gas, adds to the warm keep. This setup traps warm inside in cold times and stops it from getting in the hot times, aiding your cool and warm systems work better.

Use Less Energy

Switching to two-glass sheets can cut down on energy use a lot. As per Energy Star 6.0, house owners can keep from $126 to $465 each year by moving from one-glass to Energy Star good two-glass types. This drop comes from less heat move, letting HVAC tools use less power. Two-glass windows also keep down sun heat in hot times - a key point since windows can be up to 30% of a home's cool and warm energy use. While smart glass has changeable cooling, two-glass gives steady energy save without added care needs.

No Loud Noises

The still gas in the glass isn't just for warm - it also blocks sound. Two-glass windows cut down on outside noise a lot, making for a quieter spot inside. This point is a big plus for homes by busy roads or airports.

Water Tight

Two-glass windows come with better seals to stop water from getting in. Yet, as time goes on, these seals can weaken, maybe letting wet in. Often checks and right set-up are key to keep their water tightness. Though they do well in normal weather, they might need more strength for wild stuff like big storms or things flying.

Lasts Long

When kept up well, two-glass windows can last for many years. Their build means more toughness and better storm stand than one-glass choices. The sealed style also keeps dust and other small bits out, keeping their warm keep good. Though the sealed parts may need changing later, two-glass windows are a lasting, money-saving pick for better home weatherproofing.

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3. Low-E Glass

Low-E glass bumps up how well we fight off bad weather with a very thin cover made to turn back infrared and ultraviolet light. This layer not only helps keep warmth in but also controls how much heat comes in through your windows, making your place use less energy.

Energy Saving

Low-E glass is good for cutting down what you pay for energy because of its reflective cover. When put next to regular clear glass, it cuts the warmth going out by 30% to 50%. To give you a clear view, the emissivity of normal glass, about 0.9, goes way down to about 0.05 when a soft-coat Low-E film is put on. Also, Low-E glass blocks UV light up to 70% better than old windows. Double-glazed windows with Low-E glass can get a U-value as low as 0.9, a big jump better.

Warmth Keeping

Low-E glass doesn't just save energy - it also keeps a comfy feel inside. While normal double-pane windows hold heat with air in between, Low-E glass does more by turning back radiant heat. This means your home stays warm in winter and cooler in summer, because it holds back heat moving. The low-emissivity coat also keeps more heat in during cold times, all while letting lots of natural light in to make your space bright.

Lasting Long

Low-E glass is not just about saving energy - it lasts a long time. It stands up well in rough weather, with kinds made strong to stand high winds and flying bits. These windows also hold broken bits in place, cutting down risks. For instance, during Hurricane Irma in 2017, buildings with tough Low-E glass got way less harm than those with everyday windows. The coats are made to last for years, often as long as the window itself. With care, like washing with soft things, their work can stay good over time, cutting down how often you need new ones.

Good and Bad Points

Let's look at how each kind of window does in keeping bad weather out:

Feature	Smart Glass	Standard Double-Pane Glass	Low-E Glass
Thermal Insulation	Very good at keeping heat in, saves a lot of energy	Traps air or gas between panes to keep heat in	Cuts down heat loss by 30–50%, very good at it
Water Resistance	Keeps out water if edges are sealed right	Works well if sealed well	Like double-pane, needs good seals to work well
Soundproofing	Cuts down some noise	Good at blocking noise	Not great at stopping noise
Durability	Lasts long if made well	Lasts okay; seals might break and cause fog	Lasts okay; surface may wear out
Energy Efficiency	Really good in different settings	Fine for simple heat keeping jobs	Very good, helps control sun heat well
Cost	Costs a lot at first	Costs the least, easy on the wallet	Price can be okay or a bit high

Let's look more into these parts to see how each window type works with keeping out the weather.

“Durable smart glass is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, including high temperatures, humidity, and UV radiation. However, it is essential to choose the right type of smart glass suitable for specific environmental requirements.”

Smart glass is known for its great energy use and how well it changes, but it is very pricey. Standard double-pane glass has good heat hold and keeps out water for less money, making it a smart pick for many. Low-E glass, in turn, finds a good mix - offering good energy save, fair lasting, and not-too-high cost, making it a strong pick for keeping out bad weather.

In places like Colorado, using double-pane glass with a Low-E coat and argon gas fill is often seen as the best. This way gives great heat hold, sun control, and UV block while keeping a clear view. To back this, an energy study of a young school near Cleveland, Ohio, showed that using double-pane windows with outer Low-E cover cut energy costs by 1.6%.

When picking the right one for your home, keep in mind that windows are key to energy use. In fact, heat loss and gain through windows make up about 30% of the energy used for home heating and cooling. Pick tech that fits your needs and wallet to boost both ease and savings.

End Thoughts

Smart glass adds a cool, new touch to saving energy and taming the climate, but it does cost more.

This tech is good at cutting down power use, slashing cooling costs by up to 30% and overall energy needs by up to 20%. It blocks UV rays and manages light and warmth on its own. A test by the University of Washington showed this: a Seattle building redone with View Glass saved 17.7% on energy, which means about $28,000 more a year.

But the price is high. Smart glass costs from $50 to $100 for each square foot, and better kinds can be $150 to $250. Normal glass costs $10 to $15. Homeowners need to think about ongoing costs too, like electric work and what if the power goes out.

This tech fits well for certain uses. It's great for those who like new tech things like changing privacy and can pay for a top-notch product. The gains stand out in sunny places, where money saved on cooling can help balance the high start cost. For most people, though, weighing cost against what you get is key.

For more standard ways to keep out the weather, things like Low-E glass with two panes are still good value. As the smart glass market grows fast at about 12.4% each year, prices might drop later on.

For those just looking at smart glass, but not ready to dive in, smart film is a cheaper choice. It goes for $25 to $45 a square foot, giving some smart glass perks without the big cost.

In simple terms, smart glass fits just right for those with certain needs and the money for it, giving top-tier results and features. For more on keeping out the weather, go see Bayshore Exteriors at https://bayshoreexteriors.com.

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