Your carpeting, wood floors and favorite artwork can be damaged by the sun’s rays streaming through old windows. Energy efficient windows with a low-emissivity coating prevent these items from fading and discoloring.
Double- and triple-pane energy efficient windows with a insulated frame and spacers help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. This helps reduce peak cooling demand and lower your utility bills.
1. Reduce Your Energy Bills
Energy efficient windows reduce heat transfer and lower your heating and cooling costs. They help keep your home cool in the summer, and block cold air from entering your home during winter. The insulated frames and glass units also help prevent leaks that cause drafts.
When choosing the best window for your home, consider its NFRC ratings, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), and U-factor. The lower the SHGC and U-factor, the more energy efficient your windows are.
High quality impact windows use multiple panes of low-emissivity glass with coatings to minimize UV and infrared rays that cause heat, while allowing visible light to pass through. They also feature insulated frames and spaces, spacers, and argon gas fills between the glass panes to further reduce energy loss. Compared to traditional single-pane windows, hurricane impact windows and doors have been shown to significantly reduce both heating and cooling costs. This is in addition to protecting your home against storm damage, and increasing its value.
2. Keep Your Home Comfortable
Windows and doors allow natural light to enter a home and help maintain a comfortable temperature. Energy-efficient windows prevent heat loss and air leakage by forming an airtight seal around the frames. This allows the HVAC system to regulate a consistent indoor temperature, reducing cooling costs.
Additionally, energy-efficient windows feature argon gas-filled panes to block out sunlight and reduce the transfer of heat in warmer climates. They also have coatings that protect against harsh UV rays, which help preserve furniture and art.
If you want to save energy and lower your electricity bills, consider replacing old windows with ENERGY STAR certified options. Look for a low U-factor and low solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) to maximize energy savings in colder climates. In addition, use awnings or other shading options to reduce outdoor temperatures and solar heat gain in summer. These tips will make your home more comfortable and increase its value. They will also minimize your carbon footprint.
3. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
The glass used in energy efficient windows has a coating that minimizes the transfer of ultraviolet and infrared rays. This reduces your home’s cooling demands significantly, and it helps protect your furniture, pictures, rugs, and carpets from fading.
In one study, advanced windows lowered peak cooling energy demand by 14.7% compared to standard homes with aluminum frames and single-pane clear glass. This was achieved by reducing the window solar heat gain coefficient and lowering frame thermal conductance.
Other benefits of energy-efficient windows include noise reduction and increased security. The same technology that minimizes heat transfer also keeps out incoming noises, such as street traffic and railway sounds. As a result, you can enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep. The lower energy bills and comfort provided by energy-efficient windows also help reduce your carbon footprint, as you use less fossil fuel-powered energy to maintain the desired temperature in your home. This makes energy-efficient windows an excellent choice for environmentally conscious homeowners.
4. Increase Your Home Value
Replacing your old windows with new Energy-efficient ones increases the value of your home. This is because the new windows look better and make your house more appealing to buyers. They also reduce outside noise and keep the inside temperature steady.
The key to energy efficiency is controlling heat transfer. This happens when sunlight passes through a window and raises indoor temperatures, which causes your HVAC system to work harder. Energy-efficient windows are designed to prevent this from happening by blocking infrared and UV rays while allowing visible light to pass through. This helps to keep your house cool in the summer and warmer in the winter.
The insulated frames and glass in Energy-efficient windows also help to block the movement of warm air, resulting in lower utility bills. Plus, the special coatings on the glass protect against condensation build-up and water spots. This can save you hours of cleaning time. This makes them a smart investment for any homeowner.