What Makes a Window Energy Efficient?
In recent years, energy efficiency has grown as a major selling point for house windows, and the reason is understandable. Heat gain and heat loss through windows account for about 25 to 30 percent of the average home’s heating and cooling costs. If your windows are old or are in poor condition, it’s likely that they exceed these numbers and are negatively impacting your monthly energy bills.
Fortunately, you can take measures to improve your home’s thermal performance, such as keeping your HVAC system in optimal condition, replacing your home’s insulation, and, of course, installing energy-efficient windows.
Characteristics of Energy-Efficient Windows
In the United States, energy-efficient windows bear the ENERGY STAR® label as an indicator of their effectiveness at reducing heat transfer. By helping homeowners use less energy, ENERGY STAR certified products can lead to appreciable energy savings as well as lower greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. According to ENERGY STAR, homes with energy-efficient windows can save on average $101 to $538 a year and reduce emission by 1,006 to 6,205 pounds of CO2.
In addition to the ENERGY STAR label, an efficient window will have:
- Low-emissivity, or low-E, glass – Through a combination of subtle tinting and reflective coatings applied to the window panes, low-E glass limits heat transfer and blocks up to 99 percent of the sun’s UV rays. In the summer, low-E glass reflects heat away from your home to keep it cool. In the winter, low-E glass reflects heat back into the room, keeping it warm.
- Two or three panes of glass – Multiple panes of glass mean more layers of weather protection, but be aware that more panes are not necessarily better. For cost-effective windows that deliver great thermal performance, choose windows with the right number of panes necessary for your climate. Any reputable and experienced window replacement company would be able to help you in this regard.
- Gas fills – To increase insulation, window manufacturers fill the space between panes with colorless, non-toxic gases, typically argon or krypton.
Other Innovative Features
Some window manufacturers offer unique features and options for improved thermal performance – warm edge spacers, for instance. Spacers separate and secure glass panes. Spacers that feature “warm-edge” technology minimize heat transfer at the edges of panes, where they are most vulnerable to energy loss.
Other well-known companies, utilize integrated between-the-glass blinds to block sunlight, or remove low-E coating from around the edges of panes to reduce the risk of seal failure.
Energy-Efficient Windows from Recognized Remodeling Expert
Named the Best Replacement Window Company by the Albuquerque Journal, Dreamstyle Remodeling installs windows, some of the most thermally-efficient options on the market. Our windows are available in a slew of attractive styles, from double-hung and casement to gliding and picture. If your home’s architecture is untraditional, don’t worry. Dreamstyle Remodeling also creates custom-shaped windows that can be ideal design complements. What’s more, our windows are available in wood, fiberglass, and vinyl frames to suit a range of budgets and aesthetic preferences. And no matter which style or material you select, your windows will feature energy-efficient options that meet or exceed ENERGY STAR guidelines in all 50 states.
Want more information? Contact Dreamstyle Remodeling today. We will be happy to schedule an in-home consultation to provide you with more details and tell you all about our convenient financing plans.
