LoE-180: Clear Views that Welcome Winter Sun
LoE-180 is the “let the sunshine in” coating. It keeps rooms bright and lets useful winter sun help warm your home, while still improving insulation compared with clear glass. In a dual-pane unit with argon fill, it delivers a noticeable comfort upgrade without a tinted look.
At a glance: performance you can feel
Bright daylight
About 79% visible light passes through, so colours look natural and rooms stay airy.
Welcomes winter sun
SHGC ≈ 0.69 means more of the sun’s heat can help warm your space in cold months.
Improved insulation
U-factor ≈ 0.26 (center-of-glass, with argon) helps hold heat during winter nights.
UV filtering
Blocks roughly ~71% of UV to help reduce fading on floors and furnishings.
Where LoE-180 shines
South-facing windows and patio doors benefit most, capturing free winter warmth without darkening the glass. Bright living areas stay open and welcoming, and rooms feel steadier from daytime sun through nighttime—especially when the cavity is filled with argon gas.
How it works
LoE-180 is a microscopically thin metallic layer inside the sealed unit. It allows lots of visible light, reflects indoor heat back into the room on cold nights, and lets winter sunlight contribute useful warmth during the day. In a typical dual-pane build, the coating sits on an interior surface of the outer pane (often the “#3 surface”) to balance clarity and performance.
Good to know
Placement in the unit
Optimized for an interior surface on the outer lite of a dual-pane IGU for clear views with passive solar gain.
Safety glazing
Available tempered or laminated for bathrooms, doors, and other code-rated locations without sacrificing clarity.
Neutral appearance
Designed for a clean, natural look—no heavy bronze/grey cast—so interiors and views look true to life.
Fade resistance
By trimming UV while keeping daylight, LoE-180 helps protect finishes compared with clear glass.
Pairing LoE-180 with i89 (room-side boost)
Why add i89
LoE-i89 is a room-side layer that reflects warmth back into the space. Combined with LoE-180, it lowers the U-factor further while preserving the bright, winter-sun feel.
What changes
In a dual-pane argon build, pairing LoE-180 + i89 typically nudges visible light to ~77%, trims SHGC toward ~0.62, and can drop center-of-glass U-factor to about 0.21—a cozy upgrade for bedrooms and living rooms.
LoE-180 vs other LoE choices
LoE-180
Bright and high-gain for south glass; ideal where summer overheating isn’t the main issue.
LoE-272
Balanced, all-season default—good summer control with excellent clarity on mixed orientations.
LoE-366
Stronger sun control for hot west/south exposures and large openings; neutral, clear view.
LoE-i89
Room-side layer that lowers U-factors without dimming views; pairs well with 180/272/366.
When to pick a different LoE
If a room already overheats in summer or faces intense afternoon sun, step up to LoE-366. If you want one clear, all-rounder for mixed directions, LoE-272 is a safe default. For a warmer night-time feel without losing brightness, add LoE-i89 to LoE-180.