Interesting about the spider plant—mine actually started looking a bit perkier too, but I always chalked it up to less draft and not so much the glass itself. Makes me wonder, though: if these coatings are blocking some UV, could that be why my succulents near the window seem to grow slower now? Or maybe it’s just the time of year... Hard to tell. I do agree, the greenish tint is weird at first but now I barely notice. Lower bills are definitely more obvious than any color shift on the walls.
if these coatings are blocking some UV, could that be why my succulents near the window seem to grow slower now?
That’s a good question—low-E coatings definitely reduce some UV and also a chunk of infrared. I’ve read that certain succulents are pretty sensitive to the light spectrum, so it’s possible the window is affecting their growth more than, say, your spider plant. Do you notice any difference in leaf color or stretching compared to before you swapped the windows? I wonder if it’s more about the spectrum shift than just overall brightness.
That greenish tint is exactly what you get with a lot of the modern low-E windows, especially if you went with a higher UV block rating. The coatings are designed to bounce certain wavelengths back, and that does mean less UV—and honestly, sometimes a little less visible light too. Plants, especially succulents, are pretty sensitive to that. They want the whole spectrum, not just the visible bits we care about for our eyes.
I’ve swapped out single-pane for low-E in my own place, and my aloe and jade started getting leggy and pale. It’s not just about brightness; it’s the quality of the light. Those coatings can shift the spectrum so you end up with less of the “good stuff” for photosynthesis. Spider plants are way more forgiving, but succulents? Not so much.
If you’re really set on keeping your plants near those windows, you might want to look into supplemental grow lights. Even a cheap LED strip can make a big difference if you put it on a timer. Or, if you’re feeling stubborn like I was, you can try rearranging your setup—move the succulents to a spot that gets a bit of direct sun through an uncoated window or even outside for part of the day.
Honestly, it’s a tradeoff. You get better insulation and lower bills with the new glass, but there’s always something you give up. For me, I’d rather have the energy savings and just adapt my plant setup. But yeah, that greenish cast is real—some people don’t notice, but once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
That’s interesting—I’ve got the same issue with my succulents. The low-E windows definitely help with energy costs, but I’m not thrilled about how they mess with indoor light quality. Out of curiosity, has anyone tried different brands or coatings and noticed a difference in the green tint or plant health? I wonder if some are less noticeable than others...
Yeah, that greenish tint is something I’ve run into a lot, especially in newer builds where everyone’s pushing for those low-E coatings. I get why folks want the energy savings—my own place saw a drop in cooling costs after we swapped out the old single panes—but I can’t say I love what it does to the light indoors. Plants seem to notice too. My wife’s spider plants just don’t look as perky in the living room since the install.
I’ve seen some brands market “neutral” low-E coatings that are supposed to cut down on the tint, but honestly, every sample I’ve seen still has at least a little color shift. Some are less obvious, especially if you go with a double-silver or triple-silver layer, but then you’re looking at a price jump. Sometimes it’s worse with south-facing windows in certain lights—midday sun seems to really bring out that green.
Funny thing is, most customers don’t notice until they try to grow something or hang up art. Then suddenly it’s a big deal. I wish there was a perfect fix, but right now it feels like you’re always trading off between efficiency and natural light quality.
Funny thing is, most customers don’t notice until they try to grow something or hang up art. Then suddenly it’s a big deal.
That’s exactly what happened at my place. We swapped to double-glazed low-E last winter, and I swear the living room feels like it’s stuck in perpetual cloud cover. My partner’s paintings look grayer now, and even the succulents are a bit sad. I get the energy savings, but the tradeoff in light quality is real. I’ve tried a couple of different brands for “neutral” coatings too, but none were truly clear—just less green. Maybe in a few years someone will nail it, but right now, it feels like you have to pick your poison: higher bills or off-color daylight.
Yeah, I totally get what you mean. I swapped out my old single panes for low-E double glazing last fall, and the difference in light is way more noticeable than I expected. My living room used to feel super bright, but now it’s kind of… muted? Plants are definitely less happy, and the walls seem duller. I keep telling myself the lower heating bill is worth it, but there’s a part of me that misses that crisp daylight. Maybe the tech will catch up soon—feels like we’re all stuck choosing between comfort and aesthetics for now.