4 Ways Energy-Efficient Windows Can Save You Money

As a homeowner, are you finding your energy costs keep getting more expensive despite all the technological advances improving overall efficiency? You have curtailed your consumption during peak usage staying up late or getting up very early just to get your laundry done or run your dishwasher. You have your HVAC system set to the maximum minimums, yet you pay more for less, it seems, as the indoor air quality suffers while your system works overtime to keep you just a few degrees off comfort. Have you considered your windows might be the culprit in undermining all your efforts?

How Old Are Your Windows?

If you still have the single-pain, metal-framed windows in your home, you are a likely candidate who will see the greatest savings on utility bills. Other factors affecting the way windows can securely preserve optimal indoor air quality include the presence of trees, eaves and overhangs and where windows are situated in terms of the west- and south-facing sides. On average, you should expect to either replace or upgrade your windows at least every 20 years.

Windows and Doors Create Vulnerable Areas in Your Home

Windows and doors represent a void within the building envelope of your house intended to establish the physical separator between the outside and indoor air quality. Fundamentally, these fixtures must also resist water, light, heat and noise transfer. Modern window glass blocks UV rays, which help preserve fibers in carpets and upholstery. Typically, where the light intensity is greatest, pictures tend to fade more quickly.

Four Ways Energy-Efficient Windows Save You Money

Homeowners who have invested in window replacement express varying degrees of energy cost savings, and this is due to a variety of factors. There are four ways energy-efficient windows can save you money:

1. Frame types.Achieve maximum efficiency with vinyl or fiberglass incorporating multi-chambered build with fusion-welded corners.
2. Glazing type. Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), the amount of solar radiation allowed through the glass, and Visible Transmittance (VT), the amount of light allowed through, both influence the ENERGY STAR ratings. This is qualitative window tinting to achieve specific results. With multiple panes, insulated glazing is created by spacing and hermetically sealing the panes, leaving an air space used for further insulation.
3. Gas fills. Argon or krypton gas-filled windows require a minimum of two panes of glass to create a space between them. Filling this space with these safe, naturally-occurring gasses creates an invisible barrier protecting the interior atmosphere against either heat or cold, which also influence the leakage rate or U-factor of a window.
4. Edge spacers provide a gas-tight seal, a moisture barrier to prevent condensation and manages the stress of expansion and contraction.

You can see there is significant science behind the technology of the modern window pane. A low-e coating is another means of decreasing a window’s U-factor while reducing energy expense. By learning more about the ENERGY STAR basics and the different glass options, you can maximize your savings.

When replacing your windows, choose the most efficient product for the money that works best for your climate zone. Savings estimates could pare 40 percent off your utility bill by replacing single-pane windows with two- or three-pane, energy-saving models. To ensure your new windows are properly installed, have a trained professional from residential window services perform the installation to protect the manufacturer’s warranty. Upgrading your windows improves the curb appeal of your home, restricts the heat loss and gain throughout the seasons and keeps your hard-earned money from literally blowing right out the window.