Low-E Windows and Glass for Texas Homes

Low-E glass is the single most important feature in a Texas window. Cardinal Low-E coatings block up to 82 percent of the sun’s heat and up to 99 percent of fading UV rays, while your windows stay clear and bright.

Updated November 2026

Call or text for a consultation(972) 768-1999
FGIA Certified Window Installation Company
Book Your In-Home Consultation

See which Low-E glass fits your home. Schedule your in-home consultation and get an itemized proposal.

What Is Low-E Glass?

Low-E glass is window glass with a microscopically thin, invisible metal coating that reflects heat while letting visible light through. Low-E stands for low emissivity. The coating bounces the sun’s infrared heat back outside in summer and keeps your home’s warmth inside in winter, without making your windows look tinted. In our windows, the Low-E coating is paired with argon gas sealed between the panes, which slows heat moving through the glass.

In Texas, Low-E glass windows are what keep west-facing rooms livable in August. The right coating lowers cooling costs, protects floors and furniture from fading and makes every room more comfortable.

Up to 82%
of the sun’s heat blocked
Up to 99%
of fading UV rays blocked
Invisible
coating with no heavy tint
Year-round
cooler summers, warmer winters

How Low-E Coating Works

It reflects heat, not light. Sunlight carries visible light, infrared heat and ultraviolet rays. A Low-E coating lets most of the visible light pass through, but reflects much of the infrared heat and blocks most of the UV.

In summer, the coating bounces the sun’s heat back outside before it reaches your rooms, so your AC does not have to fight your windows.

In winter, it reflects the heat from your furnace back into the room, so warm air stays inside.

The result: a cooler, brighter home with lower energy bills all year.

Diagram showing how Low-E glass reflects summer heat outside and keeps winter heat inside

Low-E Glass vs
Regular Glass

Regular glass lets the heat right in. Clear, uncoated glass lets most of the sun’s heat pass straight through, which is why rooms with older windows bake every afternoon. Low-E glass windows still let in plenty of natural light, but they block far more heat and UV. Here is how much of the sun’s heat each glass option stops.

DFW Heat Records and How Much Heat Your Glass Lets In
113°
The hottest day ever recorded at DFW. It happened two days in a row.
71 days
at 100° or more in a single year, the all-time record.
55 days
at 100° or more in 2023, nearly 3 times a normal year.
42 days
in a row at 100° or more, the longest heat streak on record.
How much of the sun's heat comes through the glass
Clear double-pane glass
78%
Cardinal Lodz-340+
18%
Heat records at DFW Airport: National Weather Service, WFAA and Fort Worth Star-Telegram (113° in 1980, 71 days in 2011, 42-day streak in 1980). Heat through glass: Cardinal solar heat gain coefficients. Glass values are Cardinal center-of-glass. Whole-window ratings vary.

Which Low-E Glass Is Right
for Your Texas Home?

Every Cardinal Low-E package keeps Texas heat outside. The difference is how much. Choose one glass package for the whole home based on how much sun your home takes and how much light you want inside. Every package blocks 95 to 99 percent of fading UV rays. We walk you through every option during your in-home consultation. See how glass packages compare across top window brands.

Cardinal Lodz-366 Low-E glass badge
Most Popular

Cardinal Lodz-366

73%
of the sun’s heat blocked

Balanced heat control with clear, neutral views and comfortable daylight. The most versatile Low-E glass for Dallas-area homes.

Quad LoĒ-452+ Low-E glass badge
Premium

Quad LoĒ-452+

78%
of the sun’s heat blocked

Four silver layers for stronger heat control than 366 with more natural light than 340+. Blocks 99 percent of UV rays and includes Neat+.

Cardinal Lodz-340+ Low-E glass badge
Maximum Sun Control

Cardinal Lodz-340+

82%
of the sun’s heat blocked

Blocks the most solar heat of any package we offer and cuts glare. Ideal for homes in full Texas sun. Includes Neat+.

Cardinal LoE-i89 glass badge

Add-on: LoĒ-i89 interior coating. A clear coating on the room-side surface of the glass that reflects your home’s heat back inside in winter. Paired with Quad LoĒ-452+, it lowers a dual-pane window’s U-factor from 0.24 to 0.20.

Glass packageSolar heat blockedNeat+ coatingIdeal for
Lodz-36673%Not includedMost Dallas-area homes
Quad LoĒ-452+78%IncludedHeat control with more natural light
Lodz-340+82%IncludedHomes in full Texas sun

Upgrades and Details
Behind Every Window

Cardinal Neat+ glass coating logo

Neat+ Glass Coating

Included with Lodz-340+ and Quad LoĒ-452+. A sunlight-activated coating that helps rain rinse away dirt and mineral buildup, so your glass stays cleaner between washes.

Sound control glass for quieter windows

Sound Control Glass

Offset glass thickness and acoustic layers that cut street and traffic noise for quieter rooms and better sleep.

Cardinal Endur IG warm edge spacer logo

Endur IG Warm Edge Spacer

Reduces heat transfer around the edge of the glass, where most energy loss happens, and helps extend seal life.

Cardinal Preserve Protective Film

Preserve Protective Film

A factory film that protects the glass from scratches and debris during shipping and installation, then peels away clean.

Privacy and Specialty Glass

Add privacy or style while keeping rooms bright. Perfect for bathrooms, entryways and sidelites.

Satin privacy glass patternSatin
Rain privacy glass patternRain
Obscure privacy glass patternObscure
Glue Chip privacy glass patternGlue Chip

Is Low-E Glass Worth It?

In Texas, yes. Low-E glass blocks up to 82 percent of the sun’s heat, so your AC runs less and rooms that used to bake in the afternoon finally stay comfortable. It also blocks up to 99 percent of the UV rays that fade floors, rugs and furniture, and it keeps your home warmer in winter.

Nearly every quality replacement window today is a Low-E glass window, so the real decision is which package fits your home. We install Low-E windows across Plano and nearby cities, with Cardinal glass on Burris windows and Pella InsulShield glass on Pella windows, and every installation is done by Optimal Windows, an FGIA Certified Installation Company. See how it fits into energy efficient window replacement.

Why Homeowners Trust
Optimal Windows

FGIA certified, so your windows perform the way they were built to. Optimal Windows is an FGIA Certified Window Installation Company, which means every window we install goes in to a national installation standard, not just the way an installer happened to learn on the job. That matters because Low-E glass can only block heat if the frame around it is sealed tight, so a precise installation is what lets your new glass keep your home cooler.

From there, the rest is simple. Our salespeople are never on commission. Every project starts with an in-home consultation and ends with an itemized proposal, so you know exactly what you are getting and what you are paying for, and every window is backed by the manufacturer’s limited lifetime warranty plus our own workmanship warranty.

FGIA Certified Window Installation

Installed to a national standard, so your windows seal tight and perform for years.

No Commissioned Salespeople

Honest guidance with no pressure tactics.

Itemized Proposals

Every window detailed line by line.

Built for Texas Heat

Low-E glass that keeps the heat outside.

Areas We Serve

We install Low-E windows for homeowners across Plano and nearby cities, including:

Plano

Window Replacement

Frisco

Window Replacement

McKinney

Window Replacement

Allen

Window Replacement

Richardson

Window Replacement

Carrollton

Window Replacement

North Dallas

Window Replacement

Recent Window Replacement Projects

Recent projects showcasing professionally installed, energy-efficient windows in a variety of home styles and settings.

A Higher Standard of Installation
★★★★★
Patrick B. – McKinney, TX
After comparing multiple vendors, they offered the most competitive pricing while still delivering high-quality windows and installation. What really stood out was the quality of the workmanship. Every window was installed to a very high standard, especially compared to a previous vendor I worked with where I experienced multiple issues. Matt being on-site throughout the project demonstrated a high level of integrity, ownership, and attention to detail.
Transparent From the First Email
★★★★★
Katie H. – Plano, TX
We compared 6 other companies and chose to go with Optimal. We really liked how he priced out each window on the invoice so we could upgrade different ones. He also sent all of his certifications on the first email so we didn’t have to look for them. He was not a sleazy salesman, and the windows are a great price. Matt was super transparent and made us feel confident in our choice.
Professional, Fast and Incredibly Clean
★★★★★
Rong-ti M. – Plano, TX
We had Optimal Windows replace all of the west-facing windows in our home with energy-efficient windows. The crew was professional, fast, and incredibly clean. They carefully removed and reinstalled our blinds. Honest, trustworthy, and highly skilled people. It’s rare to find a company that cares this much about doing things right.
43 Windows, Gold Star Service
★★★★★
Erik K. – Plano, TX
Matt and his company replaced 43 windows in our home at a very fair price. While his pricing was budget friendly, the level of service was gold star. Matt was here every day supervising and working alongside his crew, from setting in windows to cleaning up tiny bits of debris in the yard to polishing the new windows to perfection. We had very high expectations and they were exceeded.
Five Quotes, One Clear Choice
★★★★★
Amanda R. – Frisco, TX
After getting five quotes, we chose Optimal Windows and couldn’t be happier. Matt was never pushy and kept us updated throughout the process. The results look amazing, and within one month we already noticed lower electric bills. Photos show before/after with our new Burris windows—highly recommend!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Low-E glass block UV?

Yes. Cardinal Low-E glass blocks 95 to 99 percent of the UV rays that fade floors, rugs and furniture, depending on the package. Quad LoĒ-452+ (Low-E 452+) blocks 99 percent.

Low-E argon glass combines a Low-E coating with argon gas sealed between the panes. The coating reflects the sun’s heat, and the argon, which is denser than air, slows heat moving through the window. Together they keep your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

Hold a lighter or small flashlight up to the glass and look at the reflections. With clear glass, every reflection is the same color. With Low-E glass, one reflection shows a slightly different color because of the coating. The label on new windows also lists the glass package.

On the Burris windows we install, Cardinal Lodz-366 (Low-E 366) comes standard. Upgrading to Lodz-340+ (Low-E 340+) adds about $40 per window, and Quad LoĒ-452+ about $70 per window. Your total depends on the window line, size and style. See a price range in about a minute with our online estimator.

Find the Right Low-E Glass
for Your Home

Not sure which Low-E glass fits your home? Book an in-home consultation and we will look at your sun exposure, walk you through every glass package and build an itemized proposal for your exact windows. Call (972) 768-1999 or send us a message.

Clear Expert Guidance.

Send us a message
Please fill in all required fields as indicated with a red star.

5760 Legacy Dr B3366, Plano, TX 75024

Monday - Friday: 24 Hours
Saturday - Sunday: Closed

We respect your time and never use high-pressure sales tactics

Call Text Estimate