What Factors Make Windows Energy Efficient? 

An energy efficient home is one that has minimal transfer of temperature, making it easier to heat or cool depending on the season, and saving homeowners on energy costs. Many factors can contribute to and detract from energy performance, including insulation, siding, roofing, and more.

One of the weakest spots in a home when it comes to energy conservation is the windows. Without layers of insulation and with easy passage of light, windows enable easy heat transfer between indoors and out. With the right features, however, windows can be more efficient and limit energy usage in your home year round. 

How Updated Windows Regulate Temperature and Reduce Energy Consumption 

There are different metrics by which the energy efficiency of these windows can be measured. For instance, the National Fenestration Ratings Council (NFRC) measures energy efficient windows with the U-Factor, which is how much heat travels out of a window per hour, and the solar heat gain coefficient, which tracks the amount of solar radiation coming in through a window to heat up a home. 

Likewise, Energy Star is a program within the EPA that manufacturers can certify their products with, guaranteeing that windows meet a particular range of performance standards. Choosing windows for your home that are in NFRC or Energy Star certified can cut down on energy uses by 10% or more in the average home.

Updated science and new materials have allowed manufacturers to develop windows for today’s homes that are more efficient than ever before. Depending on the manufacturer and type of windows, these are some of the ways in which modern windows can be more energy efficient:

• Glass – Since a window involves mostly glass, changes to the glass can have the most notable effect on efficiency. Double and triple pane windows are extremely efficient for reducing heat transfer. Between layers of glass, manufacturers can insert a gas such as argon which will slow the transfer of heat. You can also cut down on heat transfer when you have the right type of glass for your property. This will depend on your region and the conditions you normally experience in summer and winter.
• Window Coatings – You can use different window coatings for certain locations in your home to increase efficiency. For example, low emissivity – or low-E – glass coatings can keep out rays of sunlight, making them a good option in fully exposed windows. Lamination and tinting can also add another layer of protection against heat dissipating from your property.
• Window Frame Material – The right window frame material can prevent heat from passing through your window. Material options include vinyl, fiberglass, and wood. All of these materials have low conductivity to limit temperature changes. Vinyl window frames can also have pockets of air throughout the frame to further assist with insulation.
• Installation Process – The other aspect that makes a window energy efficient is the quality of the installation. Windows need to have a tight seal between the frame and the surrounding wall. An insufficient seal can cause air leaks, providing a fast way for heat to enter or escape from your home. Having an installation team with proven experience in windows and knowledge of energy-efficient installation techniques is the best way to make sure that your windows will stand up to temperature extremes.

California Energy Consultant Service has a wide range of solutions to make homes in the Sacramento area more energy efficient and save homeowners on the costs of heating and cooling. Our window installation and window replacement service is one of the options that we have available.

With extensive knowledge of the region and the different energy-efficient window solutions available on the market, we can help you choose the option that is best for your home before providing expert installation. To learn more about our energy-efficient windows at California Energy Consultant Service, contact our team today.