Analyzing How Energy Efficient A Window Is

Windows are rated in several categories which measure their energy efficiency. If you are shopping for windows for your home, greater emphasis should be placed on different ratings based on where the home is located in. For instance, if you are buying for replacement windows in Phoenix, Arizona, a sunny and warm environment, the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient is most likely the most essential rating to take into account. Other elements, such as the orientation of a window to the sun and any shade that may be present need to be considered.

The US Government's Energy Star program is specially designed to make it easy for individuals to identify energy efficient products and practices which will save them money and preserve the environment. The Energy Star program rates over 60 products, including windows. Energy Star certification makes it convenient for consumers to be certain they are getting energy efficient replacement windows.

All Energy Star replacement windows are ranked in five categories however Energy Star qualification is determined only on the U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. The U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient are also the categories utilized to determine if a window qualifies for the IRS Energy Tax Credit.

U-Factor
Calculates the pace of heat transfer and denotes how efficiently a window insulates. The smaller the U-Factor rating, the more effectively a window insulates. The window U-Factor incorporates the thermal properties of the frame in addition to the glazing.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
Measures the solar energy transferred by the window and shows how well a window inhibits heat caused by the sun's energy. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat a window transmits.

Visable Transmittance (VT)
Measures the amount of light a window lets through. The greater the Visable Transmittance, the brighter a room will be.

Air Leakage (AL)
Determines the rate at which air passes through joints in a window. Air Leakage is determined in cubic feet of air that passes through one square foot of window area per minute. The lower the Air Leakage value, the less air leakage.

Condensation Resistance
Calculates how efficiently a window resists water build-up. The greater the Condensation Resistance factor, the less condensation build-up a window permits.

Other Replacement Window Ratings
There are some other ratings that are not presented on the NFRC Energy Star label but they are useful and show up on some windows.

Light to Solar Gain
The ratio of Visable Transmittance to Solar Heat Gain Coefficient calculates the amount of light that is transmitted without adding heat. A higher number indicates that more light is transmitted without adding heat.

R-Value
R-Value was developed as a way to measure the insulation value of a product. It measures conductivity and signifies the resistance to heat flow. A high R-Value implies a better insulated window. The majority windows today are measured using U-Factor (see above).

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