What is Radiant Energy?

Wikipedia explains that “radiant energy is the energy of electromagnetic waves.” “When electromagnetic waves are absorbed by an object, the energy of the waves is typically converted to heat. This is a very familiar effect, since sunlight warms surfaces that it irradiates. Electromagnetic waves can also be reflected or scattered, in which case their radiant energy is redirected or redistributed as well.”

This “reflective” characteristic is of key importance to the effectiveness of Solar Comfort products.

As we all know, just as glass does very little to stop radiant energy from the sun from heating up our homes in the summertime, it is also very ineffective in stopping heat energy from exiting out the window in the wintertime!

“Consumers Guide to Buying Energy Efficient Windows and Doors” states that “Radiation losses through the window glass represent about 2/3 of the total heat loss through a standard window.”

Thus, it makes sense, that if we can gain control of radiant energy by “reflecting” it, rather than allowing it be absorbed or transmitted through the glass, we can greatly increase our comfort level AND reduce our energy costs. This is the secret of Solar Comfort!!

Solar Comfort Environmental Technologies is the only company to effectively use radiant energy barrier technology to control the bi-directional flow of radiant energies through windows, while still allowing an abundance of natural, healthy visible light to pass through! This is truly a revolutionary product!

In fact, Solar Comfort is the only window product that is certified by the Space Foundation.
Where to start?
In the evaluation of products that protect you from the radiant heat of the sun, it is important to understand the nature of what happens as the rays of the sun pass through windows and comes in contact with any surface inside the home or office. The sun’s rays are cold electromagnetic waves as they travel through space. It is not until they come into contact with something that they are converted into heat energy. For example; when the sun’s rays hit your face, you feel the heat on your skin. When the sun’s rays contact a window, only a small portion of energy is converted to heat at the window, with the balance of the sun’s rays continuing on into the room. As the sun’s rays hit the floor and the furniture in the room the radiant energy is converted into heat.

There are two physical laws of heat energy that are essential to understand in this evaluation. 1- The movement of heat is always from high pressure to low pressure, or from hot to cold. 2- For every unit of heat energy that passes through a window, an equal amount of cold energy must be exchanged through the glass in the opposite direction.

Glass is the greatest source of heat gain or loss in buildings. Radiant energy accounts for 80% of all heat movement. The two other factors in heat movement are convection and conduction. Together they account for the other 20% of heat movement. (See chart below)