Why New Windows?

Energy and Cost Savings

Energy efficient windows are designed so that heat is kept inside the home in winter and outsidethe home in summer. This reduces heating and cooling costs, minimizes energy consumption that impacts the environment, and limits the size of the HVAC equipment required for keeping the home comfortable.

Cooling Season Savings

For example, installing double-glazed low-solar-gain windows instead of single-pane windows in a typical 2,000 square foot house in Phoenix, Arizona would reduce the air conditioner peak load from 600 kW to 400 kW, which reduces the size of the necessary air conditioner from 5 tons to 3.5 tons. This difference in window performance would save the homeowner about 32% in cooling costs. In climates that mainly require cooling, windows have represented a major source of unwanted heat gain. In recent years, windows have undergone a technological revolution. It is now possible to significantly reduce solar heat gain and improve comfort while providing clear views and daylight.

Heating Season Savings

For a typical 2,000 square foot house in Boston,Massachusetts, clear double-glazed windows instead of single-pane windows would reduce heating costs by 27%. Triple glazing with moderate-solar-gain low-E in insulated frames would save as much as 39%. In climates with a significant heating season, windows have represented a major source of unwanted heat loss, discomfort, and condensation problems. In recent years, windows have undergone a technological revolution. It is now possible to have lower heat loss, less air leakage, and warmer window surfaces that improve comfort and minimize condensation.

Improved Winter Comfort

Energy-efficient windows improve comfort within homes by providing a warmer interior surface during the cold winter months, preventing that the living space near windows gets uncomfortably cold. If inefficient window performance cools down the air near windows, the cold air floats to the ground. This feels like a cold draft, even though the window may be perfectly sealed.

Improved Summer Comfort

By reducing the need for air conditioning, energy-efficient windows that control solar heat gain also reduce the risk of possible health effects from air conditioning - for instance, the overuse of air conditioning can cause headaches or aggravate the effects of arthritis and neuritis.

Less Condensation

High-performance windows create warmer interior glass surfaces, reducing frost and condensation. High-performance windows with warm edge technology and insulating frames have such a and insulating frames have such a warm interior surface that condensation on any interior surfaces is significantly reduced under all conditions.

Increased Light and View

Daylight and view are two fundamental attributes of a window. Unfortunately, windows are also the source of significant solar heat gain during times when itis unwanted. Traditional solutions to reducing solar heat gain, such as tinted glazing or shades, mean that the amount of light is reduced as well. New glazings with low-solar-gain low-E (spectrally selective) coatings can provide better solar heat gain reduction than tinted glass, with a minimal loss of visible light. This also means that views can be clearer and unobstructed.

Greater Protection from UV Fading

Many organic materials, such as carpet, fabrics, paper, artwork, paints, and wood may fade upon exposure to sunlight. Window selection can influence the type and intensity of transmitted radiation. The most harmful radiation in sunlight are the ultraviolet (UV) rays, which are the most energetic and thus most likely to break chemical bonds, leading to fading and degradation. Glass blocks all UV radiation below 300 nm, but transmits UV from 300-380 nm. Coatings on glass can reduce the UV transmitted by up to 75%. UV absorbers can be incorporated into thin plastic films in multilayer windows or as an interlayer in laminated glass. In both cases, the UV transmission can be reduced to less than 1%. However, it is important to note that the remaining visible light that is transmitted can still cause serious fading in some materials. Using low-E coated glass or windows incorporating plastic layers rather than clear uncoated glass will reduce fading for many modern interior furnishings.

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