Modern homeownership focuses a lot on saving energy and money. Many young home buyers want to reduce the number of important resources they use. You might have already invested in energy-saving appliances and smart-home thermostats. Energy-efficient windows are also a significant contributor to home energy savings.
However, many people don’t understand energy-efficient windows. If you’re hoping to live in an energy-efficient home, keep reading this blog to learn about common misconceptions about windows that could stand in your way.
1. My home is new, so my windows are efficient.
While many builders use energy-efficient windows when building new homes, many people assume that their windows are efficient because they were built in the last few years. This is not always the case.
New windows may have double panes, making them better than single-pane ones. They will also have a tight seal, an improvement over older windows. However, truly energy-efficient windows use inert gas to reduce conductivity, and the glass is treated to reduce heat gain from sunlight. This results in saving energy.
When buying a newer home, check the ratings for the windows. If you are building your new home, check with the builder before installing the windows to ensure they are more efficient.
You can measure efficiency in a few different ratings. These include:
U-Factor
Ideally, This number should be low as it measures the heat transfer rate from non-solar sources through your windows. A low U-factor indicates a window’s effectiveness in insulating your home.
Windows with a low U-factor have superior insulation properties, so they lose heat more slowly during winter and gain heat from external sources more slowly during summer. This efficient thermal performance will help you maintain comfortable indoor temperatures and reduce the need for excessive heating or cooling.
By choosing windows with a low U-factor, you’ll ensure your living spaces remain energy-efficient year-round, leading to lower utility bills and a smaller environmental footprint. This makes the U-factor an essential metric to consider when selecting new or replacement windows for enhanced energy efficiency and comfort.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
Keep the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) low to ensure optimal home energy savings. This coefficient quantifies the fraction of solar radiation admitted through a window, both directly transmitted and absorbed and then released inward.
A lower SHGC means a window allows less solar heat to pass through, making it highly effective in climates where cooling loads dominate.
When you expose a window with a high SHGC to direct sunlight, the exterior absorbs more solar energy, which is transferred inside as heat. This leads to increased indoor temperatures and, consequently, higher demands on air conditioning systems to maintain comfort.
In contrast, windows with a low SHGC reduce the amount of solar radiation that enters the home, helping to keep indoor spaces cooler during hot weather.
If you live in a warmer climate or have windows that face the sun, you’ll want a lower SHGC. It will help you maintain cooler indoor environments without over-relying on mechanical cooling systems, thus saving on energy costs and reducing environmental impact.
Understanding the balance between SHGC and the need for natural light is important, as too low an SHGC might also reduce a home’s passive solar heating potential during colder months.
Selecting the right SHGC value based on your geographical location, climate, and the window’s orientation can significantly enhance your home’s energy efficiency and comfort levels.
Whole unit measurements
When evaluating window energy efficiency, it’s crucial to prioritize Whole Unit Measurements over assessments that focus solely on the center of the glass.
Traditional testing methods might concentrate on this central area, potentially missing key aspects of overall window performance, particularly at the edges where the frame meets the glass. These regions can exhibit significantly different thermal properties and are often more susceptible to heat transfer and loss.
Adopting Whole Unit Measurements involves the entire window, including frame and spacer materials. This comprehensive approach ensures a more accurate representation of a window’s true insulation effectiveness and energy efficiency, reflecting the performance homeowners can expect under actual conditions.
Another thing to consider is whether a window has a glass coating to help reduce UV light in the home. New windows sound nice on a home listing or as a goal for replacing old windows in your current house, but window ratings matter more than whether a window is a few years old.
2. Double-pane windows are efficient windows.
Double-pane windows guard against heat loss better than single-pane windows. Many people see two panes of glass in a window and think their windows are efficient. However, heat loss occurs in multiple ways, and another pane of glass, while somewhat effective, will not give you the energy-saving results you want to see.
Ensure the weather stripping creates a good seal on the open windows. Check for signs of condensation between the panes, as this may indicate a failed seal, which means air can leak from the window.
Older windows with two panes will not compare to newer windows with gases, better spacing, more effective seals, triple panes, and low-E coatings that help reduce heat transfer from sunlight. Homeowners who replace inefficient double-pane windows with Energy Star–certified windows can still see nine percent more savings per year in heating and cooling costs.
3. My windows are efficient, so I don’t need blinds or curtains.
Efficient windows are vital in maintaining indoor climate control, yet they aren’t a complete solution on their own.
To enhance temperature regulation inside your home, especially during peak heat periods, consider covering southern-facing windows in the afternoon. This simple step helps block out the most intense sunlight and reduces heat gain, which may significantly decrease your air conditioning use and lower energy bills.
Opting for window treatments like blinds, curtains, or shades can make a substantial difference. Thermal or blackout curtains are particularly effective, as they block heat and provide insulation, keeping your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
By integrating smart window coverings with your efficient windows, you can achieve a more consistently comfortable indoor environment while reducing energy consumption.
4. Complete window replacement is the only option to improve efficiency
It’s natural to be discouraged about the state of your windows. Some people have older windows with only one pane. Others have windows that are drafty even when the weather is fair. If replacement windows are not in your budget, you are not completely out of luck. You can still talk to a glass repair and window company about other options, including:
- Replacing single-glass panes with low-E coating glass will give you less radiation heat gain with the coating.
- Adding storm windows for an additional barrier against the outside weather.
- Replacing window seals in windows that have removable parts.
If you are unsure what windows are within your budget or what you could save with new glass or new windows, Valley Glass can help.
Get your energy-efficient windows from Valley Glass.
Ready for more energy savings? Valley Glass understands how important saving energy is. That’s why we offer a wide range of energy-efficient windows to keep your home comfortable and your energy bills low. Our expert team is ready to help you select the perfect windows that fit your needs and aesthetics.
Don’t settle for any old windows; choose Valley Glass for top-quality products that improve temperature control and increase your home’s value. Visit us today to find out how our energy-efficient windows can transform your living space. Take a step toward a more sustainable and comfortable home with Valley Glass!