Window replacement helps make your home a comfortable, energy-efficient environment. The right windows can help you save money on cooling costs in the summer and heating bills during the winter.
Look for windows with insulated glass. This prevents heat transfer better than non-insulated glass. Also, choose a window with a low U-factor and high SHGC.
1. Energy Star
When it comes to home remodeling projects, new windows are among the most cost-effective investments you can make. Invest in Energy-efficient windows from a reliable supplier in Hawthorne FL, and you will save money on cooling bills while increasing your home’s resale value.
The ENERGY STAR label is easy to spot. You’ll see it on many appliances, office equipment and residential and commercial building products. It’s a voluntary program that sets and frequently updates energy efficiency specifications, which manufacturers who meet can choose to display.
Since its inception, the EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification programs have saved over 5 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity and avoided about 2.2 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere. It is the most successful voluntary energy conservation movement in history.
2. Low-E Glass
In addition to saving energy, this specialized glass helps protect furniture and window treatments from harmful UV light. This type of light carries with it a health risk for people and causes materials to fade over time.
Low-E glass has a microscopic coating that reduces heat transfer, allowing homeowners to save on energy costs and extend the life of their interior fabrics and furnishings. JELD-WEN has a number of options, each with a different rating for visible transmittance, U-factor, and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. Choosing the right option for your home will depend on your location and climate. Generally, a lower visible transmittance rating will be best for warmer climates while a higher U-factor is ideal for cooler ones. These windows are also more durable and easy to maintain.
3. Argon Gas
Argon gas is a colorless and odorless substance that can be filled into double pane windows to improve their energy efficiency. This insulating gas is denser than air and reduces the transfer of heat from outside to inside your home, thus cutting down on energy costs.
In addition, argon gas can also help control condensation. This feature is useful in a humid climate such as Florida, which can contribute to moisture build-up.
Some impact windows use argon gas as an insulator between the glass windowpanes. This enhances their thermal performance and cuts down on energy usage and carbon emissions. This type of window is a great choice for homeowners who are upgrading from single-pane to double-pane windows or want to add an extra layer of insulation to their home.
4. Energy-Saving Hardware
In the summer, high home temperatures force your HVAC system to work harder than it should. Energy-efficient windows control heat transfer to prevent these rising temperatures and bring your cooling costs back down.
Look for ENERGY STAR windows that have been rated by the National Fenestration Rating Council. These ratings are listed on the window’s NFRC label and provide reliable information that you can use to compare products.
These windows feature multiple panes of low-emissivity glass that prevents UV and infrared rays from entering your home while allowing visible light to pass through. They also have insulated frames and spacers to block the movement of warm air from one side of the window to the other. They’re rated for whole-unit U-factors and SHGCs rather than center-of-glass numbers to provide more accurate information about their efficiency.
5. Decorative Glass
Decorative glass windows help prevent the transfer of heat through your window. They are designed to reduce solar heat gain in the summer, a significant problem for Florida homes. The glass typically includes a coating that blocks UV and infrared rays while allowing visible light through. These types of windows also feature insulated frames and spacers to keep warm air from moving through the frame.
Several window companies offer decorative glass options with their windows. One example is Provia, which offers hand-beveled glass accented with caming in an array of colors. The company says its decorative art glass seeks visual character through aesthetic imperfections like textural waves, striations and random air bubbles.
The type of installation you choose for your home is a crucial factor in energy efficiency. Full frame installation is best for new construction. Then, you can fit your windows into the existing frame without affecting their style or size.