How to Use the Energy Ratings of the NFRC

Know How Energy Standards Work for You

Modern homeowners want their windows to be energy efficient simply because it translates to more energy-savings for the household. However, determining the energy efficiency of a window isn’t the easiest thing. Fortunately, there is the NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) Label that tells you important details about the window. These details can greatly assist with determining how effective the window will be when it comes to saving energy-dollars for you. At See-Thru Windows & Doors, we want to help you take advantage of this fantastic resource, which is why we’re here to give you the information you need about how to read the NFRC Label.

Learn How to Read the NFRC Label:

• U-Factor: This is a measurement of how well a window keeps heat from exiting and entering your home, which is directly related to how well it fights off heat transfer. The U-Factor is typically measured on a scale of .20 and 1.20 with a lower number representing greater U-Factor.
• Visible Transmittance (VT): The visible transmittance rating measures the window’s potential for daylighting, which is its potential for illuminating the interior of your home with natural lighting. Measured on a scale of 0 to 1, higher numbers mean the daylighting potential is greater.
• Air Leakage: The potential for air to leak through the hardware of a window and its frame is measured by this rating. Lower numbers between .1 and .3 indicate there’s less chance for air leakage through the main window parts.
• Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC): The rating for Solar Heat Gain Coefficient tells homeowners how well a window is able to block heat from the sun. This includes radiant heat and UV radiation. Lower numbers on the scale of 0 to 1 are ideal for this particular quality.

Ratings to Help Ease Window Shopping

Another rating you may notice is Condensation Resistance (CR), which measures the window’s ability to resist the formation of condensation. This number is not necessarily related to a window’s energy efficiency but can play an important role for some homeowners. An additional label that greatly helps homeowners during the window shopping process is the blue Energy Star® label. This label shows that the window has met and exceeded the standards for energy efficiency. Each of our replacement windows carry this vaunted label so you can have confidence in their ability to save you more energy-dollars the moment they are installed. Learn more about our energy efficient windows and how to identify their ratings by contacting us and scheduling a free consultation!