RESIDENTIAL WINDOWS LOW-E COATING FOR ADDED ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

#Christopher McBreen The Window and Door Specialist @ ProSource of Fort Worth Texas

Appearance

Choose a window that will look good from the inside as well as the outside of your home.

Energy efficiency

Get the facts about factors that relate to energy efficiency, like U-values and Low-E insulating glass with argon windows and weather-stripping. U-values measure the insulating value of windows and other fenestration products. The lower the U-value, the better job a window does in keeping out heat and cold (which is the opposite of R-value — the higher the R-value, the better insulation in the walls and ceilings). A low U-value is important in all climates. In Southern climates where air conditioning is important, choose a window with a lower solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) to block more of the sun’s heat rays. Compare efficiency ratings before you purchase a window to help lower heating and cooling costs and make the most of your investment. An easy way to choose energy-efficient windows is to look for products that meet ENERGY STAR? requirements. Most high-performing windows today have glass coated with a Low-E microscopic film. The Low-E coating improves thermal performance and stops much of the sun’s heat rays and damaging UV rays while only slightly tinting the window.

Function

Test the ease of operating a given window style before you buy it. Does it open smoothly? Is it easy to clean? If it’s a casement window, does the crank handle fold away to leave window fashions undisturbed? Keep in mind where the window will be placed — will it be easy to open, for instance, if it’s over the sink or another hard-to-reach spot? If the window will be a means of an escape exit in case of fire, make sure it opens easily and provides an adequately-sized opening to meet the needs of local building codes for emergency exits.

Location

Keep in mind which direction your windows will face and how much sunlight or weather they will be exposed to. Sometimes you can get too much of a good thing — oversized windows featuring standard glass can allow too much hot sun into a home during summer months. Consider selecting windows with between-the-glass shades or blinds for enhanced privacy. Select windows featuring Low-E coatings to protect your furnishings from overexposure to the summer’s hot sun.

Maintenance

How important is exterior maintenance to you? For the ultimate in convenience, consider virtually maintenance-free aluminum cladding that will keep your windows looking beautiful for years to come. Are the windows designed for ease of cleaning from the home’s interior? Are grilles protected between panes of glass to make cleaning a breeze? Are hardware options easy to maintain and operate?

Options

Don’t forget about the importance of color options in reflecting your style and adding to the appeal of your home. Color doesn’t end with the window itself. Today’s window hardware coordinates with other hardware options in your home, such as cabinetry hardware, faucets and other fixtures.

Personal preference

What style of windows do you prefer? Classic or contemporary? With grilles or without? If you make a quality window purchase, you will likely live with your decision for many years. Select a style that reflects your preference.

Price

Remember, you get what you pay for. The least expensive window may not be your best buy. A good quality window should provide decades of beauty and performance.

Purpose

Choose the right style and size for each window. Do you want the window to frame the view outside or simply provide ventilation? Will it function as an operable window or will it be a non-opening decorative accent for the outside of the home?

Window Styles

Single Hung

Single-hung windows offer all the features and benefits of double hung windows, with one difference: only the bottom sash opens by sliding upward. The ventilation opening can be adjusted from a small area to one-half of the window area.

Double Hung

Double-hung windows are often used on a second floor and both sashes tilt in for easy cleaning from the inside of the house. It also allows the bottom of the window to be raised letting the cooler air inside and the top sash to be lowered letting the warmer air out.

Fixed or Picture

Often selected for decoration or in combination with other windows, fixed windows don’t open or vent. A circular or hexagonal window can be strategically placed to enhance a view or the exterior architecture of your home. Or, in a window wall, a fixed window can be flanked by venting units and topped with smaller fixed units, called transoms.

Casement

A popular style featured in a wide variety of home designs, casement windows feature a single sash that’s hinged on the left or right and opens using a crank handle. That’s why they’re sometimes referred to as “crank out” windows. Casement windows offer more ventilation than double-hung windows, typically have less air leakage than other window styles, and look best if they are at least slightly taller than they are wide.

Sliding

Sliding windows, sometimes called gliders or sliders, function just as their name implies, moving horizontally side to side. Sliders are one of the most sleek, contemporary profiles in windows, and ideal for installing in those hard-to-reach areas, like over the kitchen sink. They also are commonly installed in multi-family buildings and apartment complexes. Sliders are typically available as single-sliding (only one sash moves) and are available in some models as double-sliding units (both sashes slide).

Awning

This casement-type window, hinged from the top, opening outward from the bottom, generally has less air leakage, because the sash closes by pressing against the frame. Because of this design, awning windows shed water away from the window opening. Awning windows are typically installed over fixed windows or doors (as transoms), or in garages above eye level to provide ventilation and privacy at the same time. They are a good choice for windows that are wider than they are tall.

Bay

A typical bay window consists of a large center window bordered on either side by double-hung or casement windows set at 30- or 45-degree angles. All the windows can be stationary (fixed), operating (venting), or any combination of these.

Bow

The bow window, similar to a bay window, consists of four or more equal-size windows, usually casements, that create a gradual arcing projection. Both bay and bow windows provide great open views, as well as give a room the aura of being larger than it really is.

Glass Types and Options

Clear

Clear glass is the basic material available for window panes. In recent years, with the advent of ever-increasing energy costs, more homeowners are choosing glass with special glazing options, like Low-E coating, to enhance energy efficiency.

Low-E

Low-E coating is a microscopically thin finish of metal oxide on the surface of clear glass that reflects a high percentage of heat. This coating allows the sun’s heat and light to pass through the glass into the home, while at the same time blocking heat from escaping the room, considerably reducing heat loss. The reverse happen during the summer time.

Heat absorbing

Glass treated with gray, green or bronze tints reduce heat gain by absorbing as much as 45 percent of the incoming solar energy, further increasing the energy efficiency of windows.

Reflective

Glass that has been coated with a reflective film is useful for controlling solar heat gain during the summer. It also reduces the passage of light and solar transmittance year-round.

Obscured

Glass that has an obscure texture is mostly used in bathrooms for privacy and is available in several options. Some patterns are very obscured while others are slightly obscure, but elegant.

Glass layers and air spaces

Homeowners can choose from two and sometimes even three panes of glass for their new windows. Multiple layers of glass increase a window’s ability to resist heat flow (decreasing the U-value) and greatly increasing its energy efficiency. An even more energy efficient window results when the double or triple-paned glass is a Low-E insulating glass with argon.

 

Frame Types and Options

Vinyl

One of the most popular materials for windows is vinyl which are durable, generally lower in cost, and energy efficient. One big advantage is the color is all the way through the vinyl and won't peel off.

 

Aluminum

While less expensive, aluminum windows are less energy efficient, but very durable, than windows made of other materials. Aluminum windows may experience conductive heat loss and condensation around the frame, more often than vinyl or wood windows.

Wood

The first material in windows and doors, wood windows are still a wise choice for many homeowners trying to upgrade a home’s original windows with more energy efficient models. Wood windows are less prone to condensation. Many wood windows feature aluminum cladding on the exterior, which reduces external maintenance.