You’ll often notice that on a summer day, urban centers are excessively hot. Thankfully, due to air conditioning, we can be comfortable inside, but did you know that air conditioning actually makes the outside air hotter? The heat that is removed from the interior must go to the outside. With all the air conditioning going on in urban areas, a large amount of heat is sent to the outside. In addition to this, the abundance of concrete and the lack of trees contribute to higher temperatures. Overall, the temperature in urban areas can be a few degrees higher than the surrounding areas due to these factors. This phenomenon is also known as the “heat island.”
Could Low-E glass, otherwise known as low-emissivity glass, help to address the urban heat island phenomenon? The answer is yes, because this glass blocks much of the infrared and UV-rays that heats interiors. Because the inside can still be lit the same way while blocking out heat, less power is needed for air conditioning. The savings in utility bills can be up to 30%.
Of course, for Low-E glass to be able to significantly reduce the heat island phenomenon, most of the buildings in urban centers will have to make upgrades. Luckily, downtown Dallas is modernizing at a fast rate, choosing energy efficiency in their buildings more often. While we live in one of the hotter areas of America, working together, we can keep both indoor and outdoor temperatures down while building a more sustainable future.
At Alex’s Glass Company, we have years of experience in doing commercial glass installation, including replacing older glass with Low-E glass. Contact us if you would like a free quote on your next glass replacement project in DFW.