Low E Windows at Brystol at Wylder: What Lennar's Non-Impact Glass Means

Low E windows have a thin coating on the glass that helps control heat, and Lennar lists them in every home at Brystol at Wylder. The exact line on Lennar's included-features list is ""Non-Impact Low E Windows."" That one line tells you two separate things: the glass has a low-E coating to help with heat, and the windows are not impact windows. This guide explains both, and the questions to ask before you buy.

What Low E Windows Are

""Low-E"" is short for low emissivity. The U.S. Department of Energy's guide to energy-efficient windows describes low-E glass as having special coatings that reflect heat energy ""either into or out of the house."" The same guide says low-E glass also reflects ultraviolet light and ""can protect your household furnishings from UV-induced fading by as much as 75%.""

The Department of Energy's building science pages put it simply: the coating ""blocks radiant energy but allows visible light to come through."" You still get daylight. You just let in less of the heat that comes with it.

In a hot climate like Florida's, keeping heat out is the part that matters most. The Energy Saver guide says that in warmer climates you should choose windows with coatings that reduce heat gain.

The Two Numbers on a Window Label

Window ratings use two key numbers. The Department of Energy guide explains them this way:

For a Florida home, the SHGC is the number to watch. The Energy Saver guide says low SHGCs reduce heat gain in warm climates. Ask the Brystol sales team for the label or the product sheet for the windows in your plan, so you can see both numbers yourself. You can read the full Department of Energy guide to energy-efficient windows for more.

Which Way the Windows Face Matters

The Department of Energy guide also gives advice by window direction. For a warmer climate, it suggests:

The plain lesson: in Florida, sun on the east, west and south sides is the heat you most want to block. Ask whether any other glass is offered at Brystol, ask which way your homesite faces, and plan shades and window coverings for the sunniest rooms.

What ""Non-Impact"" Means

Impact windows use glass and frames built to resist being broken by flying debris in a storm. Non-impact windows are not sold that way. Lennar's list for Brystol says the windows are non-impact, and it does not list shutters or storm panels anywhere on the list.

That does not tell you whether storm protection comes with the home. It only tells you the glass itself is not impact glass. So ask the sales team directly:

• Does the home come with storm panels or shutters for the windows and doors?

• If so, what kind, where are they stored, and how are they put up?

• If not, what are the options and what do they cost?

Our guide to how storm panels and hurricane shutters work explains the common types. If you want to see how impact glass compares, our guide to impact windows covers that side.

Why Windows Can Affect Insurance

Homeowners insurance is a cost to plan for on any Florida home. Ask your insurance agent how the windows and any storm protection that comes with the home affect your quote. We cannot tell you what any insurer will charge for a Brystol home, so get a quote on the exact address and plan before you go to contract. Our guide to whether new homes cost less to insure in Florida explains the questions to ask an agent.

How Low E Windows Work With the Rest of the Home

Windows are one part of how a home stays cool. Lennar's list for Brystol also includes:

• a high-efficiency 15 SEER central air conditioning and heating system;

• a programmable Wi-Fi thermostat;

• ceiling fan pre-wiring in the great room, flex room, bedrooms and lanai, per plan;

• an insulated front door.

The air conditioner does the heavy lifting, and the windows help it work less hard. Our guide to what the 15 SEER rating means explains the A/C side. The thermostat matters too, and our guide to the programmable Wi-Fi thermostat in Brystol homes shows how to set it up to save energy.

Simple Ways to Keep Heat Out

Low-E glass helps, but you can do more:

• Use window coverings on the sunniest sides of the house in the afternoon.

• Run ceiling fans in rooms you are using, and turn them off when you leave.

• Ask about homesite direction. A home whose big windows face west gets more afternoon sun than one facing north. If you have a choice of homesites, ask which way the back of the home faces.

A Quick Window Check at Your Walk-Through

Before closing, walk every room and check the windows yourself:

• Open and close each window that opens, and make sure it locks.

• Look for cracks, chips or scratches in the glass.

• Check that screens are in place and not torn.

• Look at the seals and caulk around the frames, inside and out.

• Note anything you find on your walk-through list so it is fixed before you move in.

Lennar's list includes a 1-2-10 home buyer's warranty. Ask how window problems found after closing are reported, and keep any window paperwork with your other home documents.

Questions to Ask at the Sales Office

Take this list with you:

1. What are the U-factor and SHGC of the windows in this plan?

2. Does the home come with storm panels or shutters? If yes, what kind?

3. Can I upgrade to impact windows, and what does it cost?

4. Which way does the back of this homesite face?

5. Who handles a window problem under the builder warranty, and for how long?

Common Questions

Ask Us About the Windows

Window questions are easier to answer standing in the model. Call 561-704-0091 or ask for a Brystol at Wylder showing, and we will help you get the window details and storm protection answers in writing.

See every plan on the Brystol at Wylder page at National House Search.

Related reading: SEER Rating Explained: The 15 SEER Air Conditioning in Brystol Homes; Wifi Thermostat Basics: The Programmable Thermostat in Every Brystol Home; Hurricane Shutters: How Storm Panels Work at Hadley Place.