Selecting the right windows can make a difference in their energy efficiency. The part of the country you live in, and the way the windows are facing in your home may require slightly different types of glass to obtain the best warmth and savings.
Savings From Double or Triple Pane Windows
Energy efficient windows are typically double or triple pane with argon between the glass. The best ones have an Energy Star rating for optimum energy savings on your electric bill, which can exceed $500 on an average home. This type of window also reduces greenhouse gas emissions of CO2 from power plants by as much as 1,000 to over 6,000 pounds as compared to the amount required to heat a home with single pane windows. Replacing double pane windows with triple pane ones saves an additional $150 and up to nearly 1900 pounds of CO2.
The Benefits of Low E
According to Department of Energy figures, Energy Star Windows keep your home consistently more comfortable by eliminating drafts and overheated spaces. Because the windows have a special low E coating on the glass, you also have an effective barrier to protect furniture, drapes, and carpets from fading when the sun hits.
The low E, which stands for low emissivity, coating on most windows works in both the summer and winter to block UV rays and manage the reflection of heat. In the winter, it reflects it back into the room, which keeps it warmer, while in the summer it reflects heat away from your home to cool it off.
Windows with low E coating, which is a virtually invisible, microscopically thin coating of metal and metallic oxide deposited on the surface of one or more panes of glass, reduces energy costs by 30% to 50%, while only costing 10% to 15% more than regular windows. Low E works by lowering the U-factor of a window.
Which Low E Glass is the Right Window for You?
Some window companies even offer different combinations of glass that work well in specific climates to allow low, medium, or high solar gain. Models made for:
- Most climates insulate from cold and heat and block 84% of the sun’s UV rays for double pane windows and 86% for triple pane windows.
- Northern US climates offer balanced insulation or colder winters and moderate summers and block 85% of UV rays with double pane windows and 87% for triple panes.
- Hot sunny climates allow in visible light while blocking the heat of sun, and blocks 94% of the UV rays with double panes and 95% with triple panes.
- Extremely cold climates offer insulation from the cold while allowing some heat to flow in, block 69% of the UV rays with double pane, and 93% with triple pane.
When installing new windows in colder climates, a good window contractor may recommend that you use glass with high solar gain glazing on windows that face south and east, to bring in more heat. Your house might have windows with two or more types of glass in them to maximize efficiency.
To acquire the right windows in your home, contact Mountain States Windows and Siding for a free in-home consultation.
