What Makes a Window Energy Efficient

One of the top priorities for homeowners everywhere is to save energy in their homes, especially now that summer has arrived. For many homeowners attempting to save more, replacing windows is one of the first things that come to mind. Unfortunately, this entails listening to a sales pitches from window contractors and other home remodelers about energy efficient replacement windows. These pitches may go over all of the wonderful energy-saving technologies the windows have but they don’t really give you a reason as to how they help. That’s why we’re here to offer our insights into the energy-saving technologies of modern windows and what they do to help.

How Windows Save You Money

• Multi-Pane Construction: The majority of modern replacement windows are available with multi-pane construction. This includes both double-pane and triple-pane windows. These types of windows work because they use multiple panes of glass to create barriers through which heat must transfer before entering or exiting your home. Multi-pane windows often use other energy-saving qualities such as insulating gas fills. The multiple panes of glass slows heat transfer into and out of your home, which is noted by the NFRC ratings for U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient.

• Insulating Gas Fills: Insulating gases of either Argon or Krypton are used to fill the space between the panes of glass in multi-pane windows. The higher end windows tend to have the option of Krypton since it has better insulating qualities due to its higher density. Argon and Krypton gases act in a similar way to the multiple panes in that they protect against heat transfer by creating another insulating barrier.

• Low-E Glass: Low-E Glass implements a quality of low-emissivity to reduce its potential for reemitting radiant heat into your home. Windows with Low-E glass significantly reduces energy transfer coming from the sun. Low-E composite film also reduces Visible Transmittance, which keeps harmful UV rays from the sun out of your home and protects your interior décor from fading.

• Multi-Chamber Frames: Vinyl window frames make use of a multiple chamber construction to provide an insulating dead space or thermal break within the window frame. This reduces the potential for heat transfer and air leakage through the frame.

• Spacers: Multi-pane windows are equipped with a spacer unit between the panes. The spacer unit keeps insulating gas from leaking out of the construction and keeps the glass in place. They are even known to improve the condensation rating. There are many types of spacers available but one of the most popular is the warm edge spacer, whose conductivity and thermal expansion rate makes it ideal for the majority of window constructions.

Local Energy Efficient Window Experts

The above factors should always be taken into account when shopping for replacement windows that are energy efficient. Another thing to watch out for is the Blue Energy Star label, which is a telltale sign that a window has exceeded government standards for energy efficiency. To learn more about how replacement windows can save your energy and make your home look great, contact See-Thru Windows today!