Did you know if you upgrade to energy-efficient windows you could lower your heating and cooling bills up to 30 percent?It's a fact, today's energy-efficient windows do more than just lower energy bills-they deliver more comfort, create less condensation, and protect your valuables from sun damage, better than conventional clear-glass double-paned alternatives. Estimated savings vary from region to region depending on current heating and cooling costs, and are generally greatest where there are hot summers and cold winters.
As you are able to reduce your electricity, the overall demand for electricity is reduced. In return, it reduces the power plant's load on producing electricity. The "lightening the load" on the power plant enhances their reliability, instead of blackouts. It is cheaper for the consumer to save on energy, than it is to produce energy. The federal government has implemented several programs to assist the consumer in lowering their energy cost.
OK, what exactly is an energy efficient window?
It is a window produced by a manufacturer approved by the Environmental Protection Agency using an array of advanced technologies:
Improved frame materials:
Wood composites, vinyl, and fiberglass frames reduce heat transfer and help insulate better:Multiple Panes:
Two panes of glass, with an air or gas-filled space in the middle, insulate much better than a single pane of glass. Some energy-efficient windows include three or more panes for even greater efficiency, increased impact resistance, and sound insulation;Low-E Glass:
Special coatings reflect infrared light, keeping heat inside in winter and outside in summer. They also reflect damaging ultraviolet light, which helps protect interior furnishings from fading.Gas Filled:
Some energy-efficient windows have argon, krypton, or other gases between the panes. These odorless, colorless non-toxic gases insulate better than regular air;Warm Edge Spacers:
A spacer keeps a window's glass panel the correct distance apart. Today's wide-edge spacers-made of steel, foam, fiberglass, or vinyl-reduce heat flow and prevent condensation.
What is Low-E coating?
A special coating applied on a window or skylight glazing surface. It is made of layers of microscopically thin, virtually invisible, metal or metallic oxide that suppresses damaging ultraviolet rays.
What does it do?
- Energy-efficient windows with Low-E coating can reduce heating bills by 34 percent in cold climates;
- Condensation will be greatly reduced with Low-E coated energy efficient windows;
- Energy-efficient windows with Low-E coating can reduce cooling bills by 38 percent in hot climates;
- Energy-efficient windows with Low-E coating can reduce fading by up to 75 percent. These coatings act like sunscreen for your house, blocking damaging ultraviolet rays without noticeably reducing visible light.
How do I purchase energy efficient windows?
Become an informed consumer;
Visit Efficient Windows Collaborative (EWC) “GATEWAY TO INFORMATION ON HOW TO CHOOSE ENERGY-EFFICIENT WINDOWS”. This site provides unbiased information on energy-efficient windows, descriptions of how they work, and recommendations for their selection and use.
How do I install the windows?
The warranty for the windows will not be honored if the windows are not installed professionally by a contractor. You should hire an experienced contractor who will properly install the windows for you.
