Energy Efficient Window is the leading source of information on how to find the best quality energy efficient window for your home. Install an energy efficient window and do something good for the environment and for your pocketbook. Energy efficient windows for your house can result in significant cost-savings in both Summer and Winter.
Energy Efficient Window
The windows in your home are one of the main ways that energy enters and leaves your home. In Winter months, the heated air in your home escapes through your windows, both due to air leaking through the windows and because heated interior air is drawn to your cold windows through convection. In the Summer months, heat is drawn through your windows through convection, air infiltration and solar radiation. The unwanted sunlight will not only make your home uncomfortably warm but can cause fading and damage to your furniture and floors.
You pay good money to heat and cool your home. Energy efficient window glass replacement can significantly reduce your energy bills. This is not only good for your pocketbook. It is also good for the environment.
Windows either gain or lose energy in one of three ways. First, there can be conduction through the glass, glazing or frame of the window. Second, solar radiation can come through the window for unwanted heat energy. Room-temperature objects or living things (people or pets) can radiate wanted heat out of your home. Third, air leakage from the windows can be a way that energy passes in and out of your home.
The federal government recognizes the importance of energy efficient window glass replacement. You are entitled to a federal tax credit of up to $1,500 for making qualifying energy efficient improvements to your home.
When you sit down to compare replacement windows you will find that energy efficient windows are labeled with a number of energy performance rating terms. To identify the best replacement windows you need to understand these terms. The term "U-Factor" connotes the rate that the energy efficient window will conduct non-solar heat. The lower the U-Factor, the better. The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) connotes how much solar radiation a window will permit into your home. The lower the SHGC, the more a window will block solar energy and shade your home. Whether this is a good or bad thing depends on the placement of the window and the climate you live in. Some consumers will want energy efficient windows that are better at collecting solar radiation in the Summer whereas others will want an energy efficient window that is better at blocking the sun and providing shade. Finally, you may see an air leakage rating on energy efficient windows. This connotes how much air leaks through the windows. The more airtight your window the more energy efficient it is. Study these ratings carefully because they will help you decide the best replacement windows for your home.
You should note that although types of glazing for residential replacement windows are described in different categories below, the energy efficient window that you choose may have several categories. For instance, you may purchase a double glazing window filled with argon gas and with low-emissivity glazing.
Energy efficient windows come in many different styles and designs. You are certain to find something to fit your budget and the decor of your home. Replacement windows prices can vary greatly so shop around and make an informed replacement window comparison. One can often find high quality discount windows and doors online. Among the many fine window companies to choose from, you should strongly consider Andersen replacement windows. They have been making quality windows since 1904. Marvin replacement windows are also highly regarded. Each window they make is custom-made to your specifications and they have been producing high-quality windows since 1912. You also cannot go wrong with a Milgard window.
This site contains valuable information about the kinds of energy efficient windows available, replacement window reviews and replacement window ratings.
Insulated Double Glazing And Glazing Windows
Insulated windows, are also known as double-glazed windows or triple-glazed windows. The manufacturer sandwiches air between the panes of the energy efficient window and hermetically seals it. The layers of glass and the trapped air insulates against heat flow through the window. To a lesser degree, insulated window glazing also reduces solar radiation coming through the window. Some insulated windows come with non-conductive spacer (in addition to the normal air layer) between the panes. These windows provide even greater insulation.
Gas-Filled Window Glazing
Gas-Filled windows are a type of insulated window where the manufacturer, rather than trapping air between the window panes, injects an inert gas between the panes. Argon and krypton are the gases most commonly used. This type of window treatment can enhance the insulation ability of an insulated glazed window.
Low-Emissivity (or Low-E) Window Glazing
Low-E glazed windows can reduce energy loss through windows by 30-50%. In addition to giving you energy savings in hot and cold months and increasing the comfort of your home, Low-E glazed windows can reduce sun damage to your furniture and floors. Low-E is a metallic oxide layer coating one or more panes of the window. It is ultra-thin and virtually invisible. Manufacturers make different levels of Low-E coatings so that you can control the level of solar shielding you want your energy efficient window to provide (i.e., high, low and medium strength). When Low-E is applied to the outside pane of a window, it reduces the amount of heat that enters your home in the hot months. When Low-E is applied to the inside pane of a window, it provides insulation against heat loss in the cold months. As a less expensive alternative to purchasing a new Low-E glazed window, you may also consider purchasing a Low-E coating kit to modify an existing window. These kits come in any hardware store, are not difficult to apply, and usually last for 10-15 years.
Tinted Window Glazing
Tinted glazing reduces glare and absorbs a significant amount of the solar radiation coming through a window. Tinted glazing will not prevent some degree of heat transferring into your home due to conduction. To address these concerns, it is helpful to have an inner pane with insulated glazing. Gray and bronze tints reduce the amount of heat and light entering the window equally. Blue and green tints allow in more light but are somewhat less effective in prevent heat transference than gray and bronze tints.
Spectrally Selective Glazing
Spectrally selective glazed windows filter our 40-70% of the heat normally transmitted through an insulated window but do not interfere with the visible light coming through a window.
Storm Window Panels
The most energy efficient solution is to replace the single pane windows in your home with energy efficient double pane or triple pane windows. You may, however, want to consider storm window panels as a less expensive alternative.
Storm windows were originally designed to protect your windows from harsh weather but they have been shown to have some insulation qualities as well. Storm window panels are can installed to the exterior of your window or to the interior. They are generally made of glass or plastic. Usually you install storm window panels in the Fall and remove them again in the Spring.
Internal Blinds
If you are in the market for energy efficient windows you should also consider purchasing windows that come with internal blinds. Internal blinds, or between-the-glass blinds, are blinds that come factory-installed between the panes of a dual pane window. These blinds will never break, get dirty or get dusty. Moreover, there is no hazard of a dangling cord hazard for your children or pets.
You can purchase internal blinds that have room darkening or total blackout capabilities. With respect to their energy efficiency, the insulation qualities of a dual pane window that contains internal blinds largely comes from the window itself. No studies have conclusively shown that there is marginal utility in having energy efficient dual pane windows with internal blinds over energy efficient dual pane windows from an insulation perspective. However, internal blinds do allow you to block the sunlight, and therefore provide energy efficient solar radiation protection. They will help keep the heat from direct light and radiation from your home and will help protect your furniture and floors from sun fading. Internal blinds also fit your window exactly, which cannot always be said for normal blinds. Therefore, they will block all light completely. This is valuable both from a solar radiation protection perspective and for having complete light control if you want a dark room.