Energy-efficient windows keep your home comfortable and lower your energy bills year after year. They also qualify you for federal tax credits.
Look for ENERGY STAR certification and NFRC ratings. A low U-factor value is crucial. Also, choose dual or triple-pane glass with an air space between sheets of glass—triple-pane windows are the most efficient.
Low-E Glass
The “e” in low-e glass stands for emissivity, which refers to how efficiently a window reflects and transmits thermal energy. This type of glass can significantly reduce your home heating and cooling costs. It can also extend the life of your furniture and floor coverings by reducing harmful UV rays that normally enter through standard windows.
Low-E windows contain a microscopic coating that reflects radiant heat, keeping your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. It can also decrease glare and light transfer, and it can help minimize the need for artificial lighting.
Look for ENERGY STAR-certified windows with a U-factor, solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) and visible light transmittance rating to make sure you’re getting the best efficiency possible. Also, consider adding argon gas to your double-pane windows to further boost their performance and efficiency. This can help reduce condensation, frost and ice buildup as well as improve soundproofing and insulation.
Polymer Structure Foam
Foam insulation helps limit the transfer of heat from inside a building to outside, and vice versa. This can make a significant difference in energy costs throughout the year. Insulation contractors can install foam in walls and crawl spaces, as well as in attics and roofs.
EMI shielding effectiveness of polymer foams is related to their porosity, as well as their chemical composition and structure. The porosity of the foams is a function of their pore size distribution and the way the cells are interconnected. Typically, a physical foaming process is used to produce the foams. This involves adding a blowing agent that volatilizes and expands during the melting of the thermoplastic, along with a nucleating agent to promote the formation of the foam cells.
These types of foams can be made into open- or closed-cell foams. Open-cell foams have interconnected pores that contain gas. Closed-cell foams have individual gas-free cells, resembling small glass bubbles dispersed in the foam. The foams’ low thermal conductivity, good mechanical properties and chemical resistance are useful in a variety of applications.
Insulating Glass
Windows are a major source of heat loss in homes and buildings, but insulated glass combats this problem. Also known as an insulating glass unit (IGU), this type of window consists of two or more panes of glass with a spacer that is filled with air or inert gas. IGUs prevent heat transfer through conduction, convection and radiation while also reducing solar heat gain and air leakage around the frame.
Insulated glass doesn’t compromise style either, with a variety of options for color and designs available. In fact, you can even get patterned or tinted IGUs that match your home’s design and aesthetic preferences.
Windows with insulated glass are one of the best ways to save energy and money. They will not only reduce your heating and cooling costs, but they will also help protect valuable belongings from harsh sunlight. To maximize energy savings, opt for an Energy Star 7.0-rated Thin Triple IGU. This new technology will further improve the u-factor of your window, making it even more efficient than standard double pane windows.
Energy Star Certification
ENERGY STAR certified windows are designed to adhere to strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They reduce heat loss and gain to maintain a steady indoor temperature, which decreases strain on heating and cooling systems, resulting in lower energy consumption and savings.
During the summer, standard double-pane windows let in up to 75 percent of the sun’s heat, making rooms feel like saunas. ENERGY STAR windows prevent this unwanted heat gain without reducing light brightness.
DaBella’s ENERGY STAR windows meet specific U-factor and SHGC requirements tailored to each climate zone. These guidelines help you select the ideal window for each side of your home. For example, South-facing windows need a high SHGC to maximize solar gain while West-facing windows need low SHGC to minimize heat loss. It’s important to follow manufacturer instructions when installing ENERGY STAR certified products to ensure they deliver the maximum performance possible.