I’m on Quite Solutions mailing list and just recieved this announcement, thought some here might be interested in it. Here it is verbatum…
| Announcing Alpen High-Performance Windows and Glass |
| View Image | View Image | View Image | | As you may know, Serious Materials is more than QuietRock – we’re developing a range of sustainable building materials. Today, we’re announcing that we’ve acquired Alpen, a leader in high-performance, energy-efficient windows and glass. Alpen windows were named a Top 10 Green Building Product, and are used in the San Jose Convention Center, Boulder Municipal Library, McDonald’s PlayPlaces, and thousands of other commercial and residential projects. Alpen products contribute to LEED points in multiple categories, and to code compliance. For example, with California’s Title 24 Energy Efficiency Standards, Alpen’s high energy efficiency allows for more glazing area in a structure compared to conventional dual-pane windows. Reductions in building energy use both save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions – a key Serious Materials objective. Alpen windows and Alpenglass are
distinguished by: | | -
reduced energy use through unique up to R-20 glass packages -
‘directional tuning’, to optimize performance in different climates and orientations -
more comfortable interiors because inside glass surfaces don’t feel as hot or cold as other windows -
architectural freedom to use more glass, allowing more natural light and outdoor sight lines for occupants -
proven performance over 27 years and over 4 million square feet installed | | | |
Replies
Are they claiming R20 for their windows?
I'm looking through the site now, but wouldn't R value have to do with thermal properties? I guess what makes their windows quieter probably has some thermal values as well, but don't know the specifics.
Here's one of their claims...
"QuietHome windows offer the highest STC ratings of any windows available today. As one installs windows at STC 40 for instance, the walls may become the source of more sound transmission (average walls in homes are only STC 34-38)."
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Edited 6/23/2008 11:18 pm by Ted W.
Alpen uses Heat Mirror technology in their window systems.
Heat Mirror uses a LowE coated PET film suspended between two lites to get triple pane perfromance in a "technically" dual pane window.
The R-20 glass has three layers of PET film suspended between the two outer lites so that it could be considered to be roughly equivalent a quintuple-pane IG unit. The R-20 is also an IGU center-of-glass reading so that in an actual window the performance is going to be a bit lower. For one thing, there is no frame that is close to that level of perfromance.
Very few companies offer the Heat Mirror product. In the past, more companies did so, but most have dropped it over the years for various reasons.