Window World, argon & low-E windows?
blondelle
12 years ago
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millworkman
12 years agomillworkman
12 years agoRelated Discussions
Low-e Windows Effect on Plants
Comments (47)Low e will certainly effect plant growth. Ultraviolet Light (UV) Ultraviolet light is comprised of three different wavelength ranges of light. UVC (200-280nm) has the shortest wavelength and most energy, but is potentially the most stressful to plants and human skin causing sunburn and can be very damaging to human eyes. Fortunately, for humans and plants atmospheric absorption eliminates the majority of UVC shortwave light. no need for a window film to block it. UVB (280-315nm) has a short wavelength, high energy and also causes sunburn in humans and plants. UVB is known to damage protein and nucleic acids in plant cells, causing decreased metabolism and decreased number of flowers. UVB can have positive effects as well.. A plant responds to the stress and sunburn from UVB wavelengths, by creating it’s own sunscreen in the form of trichomes and cretinoid. Exposure to UVB radiation is also known to reduce a plants biomass, plant height and leaf area, but increase leaf thickness. lack of UVB causes leggy plants. Finally, UVA and near ultraviolet light (315-400nm) has the longest wavelengths of UV light and can be very beneficial to plant development. Wavelengths in the UVA spectral range are included in the absorption spectrum, particularly in the 380nm range. The absorption spectrum is the range of wavelengths of light that are absorbed by green chlorophyll for photosynthesis. Additionally, research has shown that exposing plants to UVA light can also inhibit mold growth and fungal development. Far-Red and Infrared Light On the far end of the spectrum (>700nm) you find far-red and infrared wavelengths of light. Far-red and infrared light have very long wavelengths, and very little energy. Infrared wavelengths are not visible to the human eye and only can be felt as heat. We know that blue and red light is optimal for plant development, but research conducted in 1957 has shown that combining blue light and red light with far-red/infrared light (700-760nm), led to an increased rate of photosynthesis due to the Emerson effect. The protein Phytochrome is the only known receptor that is sensitive to far-red/infrared wavelengths. Plants use Phytrochrome to regulate when a plant is to switch from vegetation state to flowering, and the time of flowering, due to the length of daylight or exposure to artificial light. The appropriate amounts of far-red and infrared light can also be a very effective at promoting robust stem growth, proper node spacing, and more flowers and fruit. Too much IR radiation can also be an issue because to a plant the majority of IR radiation is felt as heat. consider the amount of light (PAR or PPFD) needed to successfully grow your plants. then decide if low e is sufficient for you. It may lack certain lighting requirements....See Moreare my pella'a low-e & argon filled?
Comments (2)There is no way for you as a homeowner to know if your windows are argon filled. You can determine if your windows have LowE, however. When it is dark, place a lit match next to the interior surface of the glass. If you have a LowE coating you will see three reflections in the glass. The "middle" refelction will be a different color than the two outer reflections...generally it will look green and the outer will appear yellow/red. The center reflection is the coating....See MoreLow e windows and green tint: Solarban 60 or Low-e 180?
Comments (5)Go here: https://www.energystar.gov/products/building_products/residential_windows_doors_and_skylights Click 'Buying Guidance'. Click 'Determine your Energy Star Climate Zone'. Enter your state and zip code. Your Energy Star climate zone, U-factor, and SHGC will appear for windows and doors. Make sure that the windows and doors you select meet the Energy Star criteria. You can search for windows and doors in your climate zone here (http://essearch.nfrc.org/) but it gets complicated fast. It's best to decide what types of windows and doors you want and contact local resellers. Example manufacturers and products: Marvin Essential Provia...See MoreHelp - new low r windows or glazier made low e windows
Comments (6)Thanks so much for getting back to me and thank you for the kind words. The question was not about the big aluminum unit (which is a whole separate thing) but rather the windows on the octagons on all three levels. All those windows are the 200 series Anderson double hung set mostly in pairs. We moved in a year ago. In the winter, 30 degrees out the main level and upper levels reach 90-95 degrees. I can only imagine summer (we renovated last summer so didn’t live on the main and upper floor). We never open them, they block the view and they are failing (strings breaking, feel wind coming through, condensation on inside, FLIR I bought shows massive temperate differences between center and edge). The glazier said he could create a window there buying glass (low iron w. SHGC of .3) and building the window with double owned thick glass that doesn’t shatter. The window company said they could replace with Andersen A series picture windows. I haven’t seen much anywhere about glaziers building windows as opposed to buying Anderson , Marvin , etc. which is all over houzz. Is the glazier solution considered equivalent, better or not advisable? Other downside with glazier is upper rooms need two windows that open so those would need to be casements that wouldn’t perfectly match. the big aluminum unit, which is old and inefficient (no thermal breaks) so feel temperature transmission, my choice there is to replace the upper glass temporarily or put in new system (glazier suggested aluprof). Other considerations are that basement level as flood zone considerations so would need to build 2 foot wall on bottom. So second question would be is Aluprof a respected name - I know this or another glazier would need to provide glass. finally All this is so expensive so trying to figure out cost effective approach but avoiding being penny wise pound foolish....See Moremmarse1
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