| Real quick…Here are seven reasons to | | | | windows are particularly fantastic in states |
| install energy efficient windows: | | | | that can get extremely cold. These windows |
| | | | work to make homes warmer in the winter and |
| - Save energy | | | | cooler in the summer, which becomes |
| | | | particularly evident in states with very cold |
| - Save money from using less heating or AC | | | | winters and states with extremely hot |
| | | | summers. With these windows insulating well, |
| - Add to appearance of the house | | | | homeowners spend less on heating and air |
| | | | conditioning bills. Energy efficient windows |
| - Protect a home's interior furnishings from | | | | also improve the house due to their |
| fading | | | | attractive appearance, though not all energy |
| | | | efficient windows are the same. Homeowners |
| - Higher impact resistance | | | | have choices concerning main parts of the |
| | | | window, such as the frame, panes, and |
| - Make outside noise less audible | | | | spacers. |
| | | | |
| - Insulate your home better, keeping it warm | | | | Parts of the Window |
| in the winter and cool in the summer | | | | |
| | | | - The frame |
| With reasons like those, it's no wonder | | | | |
| energy efficient windows are all the rage. If | | | | Look for windows that have fiberglass, wood |
| your windows need to be repaired or even | | | | composites, or vinyl because these materials |
| replaced, consider installing energy | | | | are better at insulating. One negative aspect |
| efficient windows. | | | | of using wood material for framing is that |
| | | | wood can be difficult to maintain, often |
| How exactly do I pick out energy efficient | | | | needing painting after a few years. Thus, if |
| windows? | | | | you choose to frame your windows using wood |
| | | | material, it's advised to get some exterior |
| When picking out energy efficient windows, | | | | vinyl or aluminum cladding to cover the wood |
| you want to look for windows that are Energy | | | | frame. |
| Star certified. | | | | |
| | | | - Window Panes |
| Energy Star was developed by the Department | | | | |
| of Energy and the Environmental Protection | | | | If wondering whether having multiple window |
| Agency. The government program's purpose is | | | | panes is preferred to having one window pane, |
| to help individuals and organizations protect | | | | remember the phrase 'Two is Better than One' |
| the environment through energy efficiency. | | | | or 'The More the Merrier.' Two panes of glass |
| The standard does not just apply to windows | | | | with space in between filled with air or |
| but to other products as well. | | | | krypton or argon insulates better than just |
| | | | one pane of glass does. Certain Energy Star |
| For the purpose of this article, we will be | | | | windows have windows with three or more panes |
| taking a look at windows that are Energy Star | | | | of glass, which do the best job of insulating |
| certified. What makes windows Energy Star | | | | and have greatest the impact resistance as |
| certified? Any Energy Star product including | | | | well as improved energy efficiency. Another |
| windows must meet the following criteria: | | | | benefit of multiple panes is that they keep |
| | | | outside noise out better than a single glass |
| - Have an NFRC (National Fenestration Rating | | | | pane does. |
| Council) label. The NFRC tests the insulating | | | | |
| quality of the entire window. | | | | - Low-E glass coating |
| | | | |
| - Be 40% more efficient than the product | | | | Low-E coating is a special coating on the |
| usually requires under most building codes. | | | | window that is great to have. It reflects |
| | | | infrared light to keep heat outside in the |
| - Reduce energy bills by up to 15%. | | | | summer and inside in the winter. It also |
| | | | reflects ultraviolet light to protect a |
| Customers cannot just rely on the Energy Star | | | | home's interior furnishings from fading. |
| label to pick out a good energy efficient | | | | |
| window though. An important consideration for | | | | - Warm Edge Spacers |
| consumers is to select windows that are | | | | |
| appropriate for the area of the country in | | | | Warm edge spacers are great for reducing heat |
| which they live. Energy Star labels windows | | | | flow and preventing condensation. Made of |
| three ways: | | | | foam, steel, fiberglass, or vinyl, they keep |
| | | | a window's glass panes the right distance |
| - "N" for northern climates | | | | apart. |
| | | | |
| - "S" for southern climates | | | | There are many brands of energy efficient |
| | | | windows from which to choose. Manufacturers |
| - "C" for central climates | | | | include those such as Accent Windows, |
| | | | Andersen, Cascade Windows, CertainTeed, |
| The three types of windows are designed to | | | | Gorell, Marvin, Winstrom, and many more. Home |
| address the heating or cooling concerns in | | | | improvement companies select which |
| each climate: mostly heating for the Northern | | | | manufacturer brand they would like to make |
| Zone, mostly cooling for the Southern Zone, | | | | available to their customers. For example, |
| and both heating and cooling for the Central | | | | Highland Windows, a Connecticut home |
| North Zone and Central South Zone. | | | | improvement company based in Hartford is |
| | | | licensed to install Alside, another energy |
| How Energy Efficient Windows Improve the | | | | efficient window manufacturer, which has won |
| House | | | | The Energy Star Window of the Year Award |
| | | | three times. |
| Aside from saving energy, energy efficient | | | | |