What Is Solar Control Glass?

How to reduce heat in your home this summer. Large areas of glazing can transform a home. They bring in natural daylight, create a strong connection with the garden and can make extensions and open-plan spaces feel larger and brighter.

But there is a downside. During periods of strong sunshine, particularly through large south- and west-facing windows, significant amounts of solar energy can enter the property. This can cause rooms to become uncomfortably hot and increase reliance on fans or air conditioning.

Solar control glass is designed to help reduce this solar heat gain while still allowing natural daylight into your home.

How Does Solar Control Glass Work?

Solar control glass uses specialised coatings or tinted glass to manage the amount of solar radiation passing through the glazing. Depending on the specification, the glass can reflect and absorb part of the sun's energy, reducing the amount of heat transmitted into the building.

One of the key measurements is the g-value. A lower g-value means less total solar energy is transmitted through the glazing. However, solar control needs to be balanced with visible light transmission, as stronger solar control can also reduce the amount of daylight entering a room.

This means solar control glass isn't simply about choosing the glass with the lowest possible g-value. The right specification depends on the building, orientation, size of the glazing and the level of daylight you want to maintain.

Can Solar Control Glass Help Reduce Overheating?

Yes. Solar control glazing can be particularly effective in areas with large amounts of glass where overheating is a concern. It can help reduce indoor temperature peaks and may reduce the need for mechanical cooling.

It can be particularly useful for:

• Glass extensions
• Conservatories
• Roof lanterns and roof glazing
• Large feature windows
• South- and west-facing glazing
• Offices and commercial buildings
• Schools and apartment developments

What Are the Benefits of Solar Control Glass?

• Greater comfort — Reducing solar heat entering through the glazing can help make rooms more comfortable during periods of strong sunshine.
• Natural daylight — Modern solar control glass is available in a range of specifications, including products designed to provide high levels of light transmission alongside solar control.
• Reduced cooling demand — By limiting unwanted solar gain, solar control glazing can reduce the amount of work required from air conditioning and other cooling systems.
• UV reduction — Depending on the glass specification, solar control glazing can reduce UV transmission, helping to limit fading of furnishings, flooring and fabrics.
• Thermal performance — Some solar control products also incorporate low-emissivity technology, providing thermal insulation alongside solar control.

Is Solar Control Glass Right for Your Home?

If your extension, conservatory or large windows become excessively warm in summer, solar control glass could be worth considering.

There isn't one specification that suits every property. The ideal glass needs to balance solar control, light transmission, thermal performance, appearance and the orientation of the glazing.

At We Supply Glass, we help homeowners, architects and builders select the right high-performance glass for their projects.