Do you realize that replacing doors and windows is the 4th most common home-remodeling job and professionals say it can dramatically reduce power bills? Yet with regards to choosing more energy-efficient options, consumers might be overwhelmed by the whirlwind of technology, terminology and options currently available.
Home owners need to be armed with accurate data to make the best choices in regards to the many available options. That’s particularly true as power costs continue to climb. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program estimates that the savings from replacing single-pane with Energy Star-qualified windows ranges from $125 to $340 a year for any typical home.
Because this is the time of year when many homeowners embark on remodeling jobs, listed below are five simple tricks for choosing the most energy efficient doors and windows for your home.
Make use of Low-E glass. Choose windows with Low-E glass, which controls the quantity of heat transferred through the window and prevents heat loss during the cold months. Jeld-Wen, a window and door manufacturer, now offers Low-E glass as a standard for its wood and clad wood windows and as an upgrade option for its vinyl windows.
Bring up to date technology. Replace older single-pane windows with dual-pane units, which protect the home from both cold and warm weather. Employing both Low-E glass and insulating glass units will bring down home energy costs.
Think about how they are made. Pick doors with energy-efficient cores, sills and frames that offer a barrier to energy exchange. Dual-pane, Low-E glass helps to ensure that they will be weathertight and energy efficient. By way of example, studies show that over time, steel doors made out of polystyrene maintain energy ratings a lot better than doors built with polyurethane.
Fully grasp the standards. Efficiency ratings provide U-factor, which is the amount of heat flow through a product. The lower the U-factor, the greater efficient the product. Efficiency is also measured by Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), which indicates the ability to block heat generated by sun rays. The lower the SHGC, the better. Ultimately, experts evaluate Visible Light Transmission, which is the percentage of natural light that has the capacity to pass through a window or door. Higher percentages imply more light will enter through the glass.
Concentrate on efficiency, not features. Manufacturers accomplish efficiency in various ways. Regardless of the technology is employed, among the easiest ways to identify the most energy-efficient items is to simply look for the Energy Star label.
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