Benefits of Energy Efficient Windows

The snowy winter months have finally coming to an end and spring is almost here. As you prepare for the spring and summer ahead, it may be the perfect time to invest in energy efficient windows.

Your windows can be a major source of unwanted heat flowing into your home. If you are not ready to replace every window in your house, consider switching out the windows that get the most sun with ENERGYSTAR Qualified windows. This is a great way to ease the cost of replacement windows while experiencing some benefits of energy efficient windows.

The summer heat will hit your windows with strong, direct sunlight which warms people and objects in your house. Windows with a low solar heat gain coefficient will reduce the amount of heat from the sunlight coming into your home. The solar heat gain coefficient is the fraction of solar radiation that comes through a window or skylight which is directly transmitted through the window, and then absorbed or released into the home. The solar heat gain coefficient recently replaced the shading coefficient as the standard indicator of a window’s shading ability. The coefficient is expressed as a number between zero and one. The lower the window solar heat gain coefficient, the less solar heat is transmitted into your home and the greater the window’s shading ability.

Energy efficient windows also create less condensation than other new windows. A new glazing technology reduces energy and makes the home more comfortable. High performance windows create a warm interior glass surface, thereby reducing any frost or condensation that develops on windows. High performance windows, with warm edge technology and insulating frames, have such a warm interior surface that condensation is significantly reduced under all conditions.

ENERGYSTAR Qualified windows will lower your heating and cooling load during peak usage times. The amount of energy used during these times determines a building’s need for furnaces, heat pumps, air conditioners or fans. Consumers benefit directly from heat load reduction with lower utility bills, but there are other unexpected benefits as well. Using windows to cut a home’s energy load means a homeowner can also reduce the size of the residence's HVAC system. Reducing usage loads during peak times also benefits local utility companies. Consider what happens when you come home from work in the summer. If you are like most people, you turn up the air conditioner to cool your home as fast as possible, start laundry and begin making dinner. Multiply your energy use by everyone else in your area who is doing the same thing and it adds up quickly! Cutting your energy use even a little will reduce the strain on your local utility company.

Energy efficient windows can also increase the amount of natural light in your home, and give you a better view of the world outside. Daylight and a view are two of the fundamental aspects of a window. Solar heat gain, on the other hand, is an unwanted byproduct. Many modern ENERGYSTAR Qualified windows offer tinting, glazing and shading to reduce the heat gain without diminishing the natural light or reducing the view. New glazing options feature low solar gain and low-e coatings to reduce heat gain even further than tinted glass alone, with minimal loss of visible light. It also keeps the view clear and unobstructed.

When you install new energy efficient windows, don’t forget to apply for your energy tax credit! Be sure to ask the sales associate about what you need for the application before you leave the store or showroom. This way, you will not have to return with questions later.

About the Author:
Karen Lauer, Marketing Director of Air-Tite Home Products specializing in replacement windows, siding, roofing, and custom doors.