COMPARING VISTACOOL AND SOLARCOOL REFLECTIVE GLAZINGS
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Second-surface Solarcool Green has a deep, natural green aesthetic.
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Vistacool is a new class of color-enriched reflective glazings, with higher visible light transmittance and an understated reflective aesthetic, compared to traditional reflective glass.
Aesthetics and Performance
Aesthetic and performance differences between Vistacool and Solarcool, a traditional reflective glass are best illustrated in the cart on the right. Comparing the products in a 1-inch insulating glass unit, Vistacool glazings transmit more visible light (between 29% and 47%) than Solarcool. This results in higher levels of natural daylighting, which is preferred in sustainable design trends. First-surface Solarcool glazings have a higher outdoor reflectance (about 36%) that gives the glass its mirror-like appearance, while Vistacool has a more understated reflective aesthetic (between 11% and 21%).
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Vistacool: Subtly Reflective, Color-enriched
Vistacool is a subtly reflective, color-enriched glass that transmits more visible light than traditional reflective glass, achieving higher levels of natural daylighting.
Unlike traditional reflective glass, Vistacool has no mirror-like appearance. Instead, due to its color neutrality, second-surface-only Vistacool amplifies the color of the glass substrate underneath, creating a crisp, clean exterior aesthetic. Its subtle reflectivity makes it ideal for harmonizing vision glass with non-vision spandrel glass.
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Solarcool: Traditional, Durable Reflective
Solarcool is a traditional metallic-oxide reflective glass that provides maximum versatility due to the durability of its coating.
Solarcool can be glazed with the reflective coating on the first or second surface of an insulating glass unit. When installed with the coating on the first surface, Solarcool has higher exterior reflectivity and improved performance with a lower solar heat gain coefficient. When installed with the coating on the second surface, the glass has lower exterior reflectivity and maintains the substrate color. |