ITI Glass eNewsletter header
IN THIS ISSUE
Comparing Vistacool and Solarcool Reflective Glazings
Vistacool: Subtly Reflective, Color-Enriched
Solarcool: Durable Traditional Reflective


MARCH 8, 2013
Greetings!

Reflective glazings have been popular in the architectural glass industry for many years. While the crisp, mirror-like aesthetic of traditional reflective glass is hard to match, recent trends for more daylighting have sparked the creation of a new class of reflective glazings.

COMPARING VISTACOOL AND SOLARCOOL REFLECTIVE GLAZINGS
Second-surface Solarcool Green has a deep, natural green aesthetic.

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%).
 
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.

See Vistacool performance data.

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.

Solarcool: Traditional, Durable Reflective
 
Solarcool is a traditional metallic-oxide reflective glass that provides maximum versatility due to the durability of its coating.

See a comparison of first and second surface Solarcool coatings.
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.
About ITI Glass eNewsletter
  
This newsletter is published by ITI Glass and delivered twice monthly via email. Each issue shares information and updates about products, applications and fabrication processes that are relevant to ITI Glass customers and the glazing industry.
  
Questions? Comments? We want to hear from you. Email your feedback to [email protected].
  
View our profile on LinkedIn  Connect on LinkedIn 
Follow us on Twitter Follow Us on Twitter 
Like us on Facebook Like Us on Facebook 
View our videos on YouTube Watch Us on YouTube