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