Identifying How Energy Efficient A Window Is

Windows are rated in a range of categories which calculate their energy efficiency. If you are choosing windows for your house, extra emphasis should be placed on different ratings based on the climate the home is located in. For example, if you are looking for replacement windows in Phoenix, Arizona, a sunny and warm location, the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient is probably the most significant rating to consider. Other criteria, such as the orientation of a window to the sun and the amount of shade that may be present should be taken into consideration.

The United State Government's Energy Star program is meant to make it easy for consumers to identify energy efficient products and practices that will save them money and preserve the environment. The Energy Star program scores over 60 products, including windows. Energy Star certification makes it easy for people to be certain that they are getting energy efficient replacement windows.

All Energy Star replacement windows are scored in five categories however Energy Star qualification is solely determined on the U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. The U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient are also the categories used to calculate if a window qualifies for the IRS Energy Tax Credit.

U-Factor
Determines the speed of heat transfer and indicates how effectively a window insulates. The lower the U-Factor rating, the more effectively a window insulates. The window U-Factor includes the thermal properties of the frame as well as the glazing.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
Determines the solar energy transferred by the window and tells us how well a window inhibits heat caused by sunlight. The smaller the SHGC, the less solar heat a window transmits.

Visable Transmittance (VT)
Determines the amount of light a window lets through. The higher the Visable Transmittance, the the more light that is permitted through.

Air Leakage (AL)
Calculates the rate at which air passes through joints in a window. Air Leakage is calculated in cubic feet of air passing through 1 square foot of window area in a minute. The lower the Air Leakage value, the less air that is allowed to leak.

Condensation Resistance
Determines how effectively a window resists water build-up. The greater the Condensation Resistance factor, the less condensation build-up a window allows.

Other Replacement Window Ratings
There are a few alternative ratings that are not included on the NFRC Energy Star label yet they are beneficial and appear on some windows.

Light to Solar Gain
The ratio of Visable Transmittance (see above) to SHGC (see above) calculates the amount of light transmitted without adding heat. A higher number means that more light is transmitted without adding heat.

R-Value
R-Value was formulated as a way to measure the insulation value of something. It measures conductivity and illustrates the resistance to heat flow. A high R-Value means a better insulated window. The majority windows today are measured using U-Factor (see above).

Identifying How Energy Efficient A Window Is
Windows are rated in various categories which determine their energy efficiency. If you are choosing windows for your home, greater emphasis should be placed on different ratings based on the climate the home is located in.

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