Living in Texas, our winter climate is normally quite temperate when compared to the rest of the United States. That doesn’t mean however, that we don’t reap the same benefits of installing Energy Star rated windows as someone who endures the long, harsh winter months of the northern United States.
The benefits of installing Energy Star rated windows aren’t just limited to your monthly electricity bills. Choosing the Energy Star standard for your family’s home is more than a financial decision, it’s a lifestyle choice. Energy Star windows can help improve daily life inside your home, because it blocks 70% or more of summer solar heat from penetrating the glass and keeps the highest percentage of heat inside your home during the winter. Not only does that put more money back into your pockets for other things in life, but it allows your family to live comfortably in your home year round, no matter if the temperature outside is 19 or 90.
An advantage that is often overlooked with Energy Star windows is the added protection of your home’s interior. How many times have you bought a stylish couch or armchair only to have its colors fade in just a year or two? Energy Star windows have a special ‘Low-E’ coating on the glass that helps to reduce the effects of the sun on everything from furniture to flooring and artwork to window treatments. With this ‘Low-E’ coating, fading can be reduced up to 75%.
In the winter months, the cold air and morning frost mean one thing to many homeowners: window condensation. It’s hard to escape the elements, and the last thing we, as homeowners, need is for the outside winter weather to find its way inside in the form of chilled condensation. However, the potential for condensation to develop on your window is greatly reduced with the installation of Energy Star qualified windows. The windows’ combination of advanced frames, Low-E glass coating, warm edge spacers, and other sophisticated technologies allow the Energy Star windows to keep the inner surface of the glass and frame warmer than the outside. By reducing the potential for condensation, you are potentially saving hundreds of dollars in repair costs for new windowsills or even new windows themselves.
If you aren’t sure whether the window you are looking to install is Energy Star qualified, just look for the government approved Energy Star label. An outside third party non-profit organization, the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), accurately tests and measures all windows seeking the Energy Star label. Many parts of the label can seem complex and confusing to the Average Joe, so here’s a breakdown of what each of the components mean and why it should matter to you.
U-Factor: measures the rate of heat transfer and tells you how well the window insulates. U-factor values generally range from 0.25 to 1.25 and are measured in Btu/h·ft²·°F. The lower the U-factor, the better the window insulates.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC): measures the fraction of solar energy transmitted and tells you how well the product blocks heat caused by sunlight. SHGC is measured on a scale of 0 to 1; values typically range from 0.25 to 0.80. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat the window transmits.
Visible Transmittance (VT): measures the amount of light the window lets through. VT is measured on a scale of 0 to 1; values generally range from 0.20 to 0.80. The higher the VT, the more light you see.
Air Leakage (AL): measures the rate at which air passes through joints in the window. AL is measured in cubic feet of air passing through one square foot of window area per minute. The lower the AL value, the less air leakage. (Most industry standards and building codes require an AL of 0.3 cf·m/ft².)
Condensation Resistance: measures how well the window resists water build-up. Condensation Resistance is scored on a scale from 0 to 100. The higher the condensation resistance factor, the less build-up the window allows.
Having a better understanding of these numbers can help you make the best decision when choosing your new windows. If you are interested in having Energy Star quality windows installed in your home before the chilly winter months, please visit Brennan Enterprises or call 817-860-9767 (Fort Worth), 972-660-3106 (Dallas), or 888-503-0044 (Toll Free) to schedule an estimate.