"With the arrival of diffused glass and the increasingly used Anti-Reflection (AR) coatings on glass, we now have a knowledge shortage about the effects of condensation on these new glass types. We know that with 'standard' glass, the drops can cost us a few percent of light. There is also glass that, due to a surface treatment, doesn't make drops, but rather creates a water film and a water film is actually positive for light transmission," the researchers at Wageningen UR have noticed.
"Hydrophobic qualities are negative and hydrophilic qualities are positive for light transmission. We still don't have any measuring methods or instruments to work out the condensation qualities and the results of this on the light transmission from the glasshouse by way of a standardised method."
"In order to gain an indication, we have put sets of 2 panes of different glass types in the glasshouse in a warm and damp glasshouse section. One of the two panes in the set is constantly being blown dry. By placing light sensors under the glass, we are measuring the effects of condensation on the transmission from these glass types."