Ray,

Thanks for the info. I thought low E had something to do with a gas they
filled the space between the two sheets of glass. A metal coating on the
surface makes more sense as a means to reflect heat.

doug bolt
Visit: http://www.boltassociates.com


Ray @ First Rays Orchids wrote:
Low-E glass has a coating consisting primarily of tin oxide on one of
the surfaces. It is designed to trap long-wave infrared (heat) and
reflect it back (to the inside in the winter, outside in the summer)
to reduce energy use.

The coating is probably in the neighborhood of 5000 angstroms thick,
and reduces the intensity of the incoming light a small amount. If I
recall correctly, the center of the visible light spectrum is reduced
less than the ends, meaning that the shading - as far as your plants
are concerned - is a slightly greater than what your eye detects.


"Douglas Bolt" wrote in message
...
Actually, the window in question
(http://www.boltassociates.com/Orchids-Kitchen/) faces south. The
glass is Low E type ( I don't know what effect this has on plant
growth. Anyone know??) and during winter months the glass is shaded
with window screen from about 16 inches down to the bottom. During
the summer, the overhang on the roof shades against direct sunlight.

That said, most plants are grown elsewhere during part of the year -
either outside or under lights.

doug bolt
Visit: http://www.boltassociates.com