[RWebb]

I put low-e all around (required for my energy savings tax & other subsidies). For sun exposure areas I also used PPG tinted glass with a low SGF - solar gain factor.

Arch.s on the bbs can tell you more info - not sure what abbreviations are in vogue right now.

Shading the outside will always work better, esp. for the direct solar beam (which is 90% of the total short wave radiation). Diffuse reflections will account for ~ 10%. Long wave inputs will be diffuse in nature but will not penetrate glass very much (from either direction). Low-e - the e= emissivity and that will make the house a bit warmer in winter.