Low-E glass (low-emissivity)
Also called: low emissivity glass, low-e coating, heat reflective glass, solar control glass
Low-E (low-emissivity) glass carries a microscopically thin, transparent metallic-oxide coating that reflects heat (infrared) while letting visible light through. In the UAE that trade-off is exactly what you want: a Low-E double-glazed unit rejects a large share of the sun's heat, so west- and south-facing rooms stay cooler and the AC works less — it cuts heat gain without darkening the room the way heavy solar film does. It's specified on the sealed unit itself (the coating sits on a face inside the gap), so you get it by choosing Low-E when you glaze or replace a foggy unit — the labour to fit it is the same as plain glass, only the glass spec changes. Best value on the sun-facing elevations; rarely worth it on fully shaded sides. Speccing the right glass per elevation is a glass specialist's call.
Related terms
Spacer & desiccant (sealed-unit edge)
The edge bar that holds a double-glazed unit's panes apart and the drying agent inside it — the parts whose failure fogs your glass.
Curtain wall (glass facade)
The aluminium-and-glass outer skin of a tower — it keeps weather out but carries no building load, and it's shared facade responsibility, not a single flat's.
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