Light reflection on windows

The problem is, the light reflected by low-e windows has to go somewhere. And often it doesn't merely bounce off the treated glass and harmlessly shine elsewhere.

Sometimes, low-E windows magnify sunlight into dangerous beams; in fact, concentrated reflected light can melt vinyl siding or artificial turf, damage a vehicle's paint job, or cause other issues due to the extreme heat of the focused light.

Double pane low-E windows can lead to the most severe cases of reflected sunlight causing damage. As the temperature changes throughout the season, the sealed air between the two panes of glass can cause a contraction that leads to concavity on the outside panel. This confluence of reflective surface and concave shape leads to even greater magnification of light, creating an almost laser-like ray of energy that can wreak havoc, melting vinyl siding, scorching grass, and damaging myriad other parts of a property, not to mention posing a serious hazard to people and pets.

Thus while low-E windows are always installed with good intentions lowered energy costs and reduced carbon emissions, e. The picture above shoes exactly what it looks like when window reflection melts artificial turf. With standard glass windows, sunlight reflection rarely causes issues. However, with highly reflective windows designed to reduce solar heat gain inside a property, the sunlight that is rejected and bounced away can become highly concentrated and super heated, leading to property damage and legal issues, most commonly in the form of melted vinyl siding.

Low-E windows reflect much more sunlight than standard windows, and this light has to go somewhere. When it is magnified into a small space, the reflected light can grow hot enough to inflict serious damage on a range of materials and surfaces. These effects are made all the more intense when the reflective windows in question are also double paned.

Quite often the outer pane of a double pane window will become slightly concave over time, and this gently curved glass surface creates intense sunlight reflection. Window reflection melts vinyl siding and can discolor and damage other materials as well, fading paint, for example.

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By Kimberley Mok.