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SmartSun glass is a solar control glass developed by Andersen Corporation for use in its windows, including Renewal by Andersen Fibrex replacement windows. SmartSun is designed to provide homeowners top-rated energy efficiency without sacrificing natural light transmitted through the glass.

Benefits Of SmartSun Over Solar Control Glass
Solar control glass is a type of Low-Emissivity (or Low-E) glass that is tinted or obscured to reduce heat gain from the sun. Originally developed for commercial buildings, it has largely failed to find a place in the residential sector.

SmartSun and a few other glasses like it are designed to balance energy efficiency with visibility. Compared to typical Low-E window, SmartSun glass transmits only 7% less light, but provides a significant increase in protection from solar heat gain.

Development And Introduction
Andersen’s existing High Performance Low-E4 coating had a high U-value and resisted heat loss and gain. To meet future standards for energy-efficiency, Andersen sought to improve the window’s ability to block solar heat gain. They also needed to maximize VT in order to make the glass an attractive option to homeowners.

After years of testing, Andersen found that adding an extra layer of silver to the HP Low-E4 coating provided a balance between VT and SHGC performance. The company named the new glass “SmartSun” and introduced it in August 2008.

Performance Ratings
SmartSun windows meet or exceed standards set for replacement windows by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. These standards require windows to have a U-value and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient of .30 or less to qualify for an income tax credit during 2009 or 2010.

U-Value
SmartSun glass has a slightly lower U-value than Andersen’s Low-E4 and Low-E4 Sun. This indicates a slight improvement in insulation during the winter.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient
SmartSun decreases the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient of the glass to .28, a 33% improvement over Andersen’s Low-E4 glass. This is a significant boost in energy efficiency for warm climates or in the summer.

Visible Light Transmittance
SmartSun windows have a VT of 65%, a loss of only 7% from Andersen’s Low-E4 glass. This is compared to a VT of 40% for Low-E4 Sun. Andersen considers this a huge benefit, since SmartSun offers drastically improved SHGC with little impact to the lighting of a home.

UV Ray Protection
SmartSun glass filters out almost all ultraviolet rays. Approximately 95% of UV rays are blocked by SmartSun glass. These rays can fade or damage curtains, fabric, and other interior items.

Manufacturing Process
SmartSun is a so called “soft coat” Low-E coating. It is designed to block both radiant heat transfer (U-Factor) and solar heat gain (SHGC) and thus performs equally well in hot or cold. Soft coat Low-E coatings such as SmartSun are applied via “sputter coating.” The glass pane is put into a vacuum, then individual atoms of the metal coatings are applied to the glass.