How Do Energy Efficient Windows Work?
If you’re a homeowner, you have probably heard from a number of friends and acquaintances that replacement windows will save you a ton of money on your energy bills. But have you ever stopped to think about how these replacement windows save you money? One of the ways of course, is that any cracks or gaps around your window frames would be eliminated with the installation of new windows, but that’s not the primary benefit of having replacement windows installed. Below you’ll find an explanation of how replacement windows achieve energy savings, and just how they work to keep conditioned air inside, and to prevent outside air from penetrating to the interior.
Energy-efficient glass
Most older homes have single-pane windows installed, which are the builder-grade variety that was the primary window used decades ago. The single-pane windows offer very little insulation against the outside air, and if you were to put your hand up against the pane, you could probably tell how warm or cold it is outside.
By installing double-pane glass windows, you can ensure that all your heated or cooled air will stay inside, and that none of the exterior air will be allowed inside. You can also have your glass treated with low-emissivity coating, and you’ll be able to block out the vast majority of ultraviolet rays which would otherwise enter your home. Direct sunlight which reaches your furniture or your curtains will cause them to fade and lose color fairly quickly, but this can be prevented with energy-efficient glass installed throughout your household.
Low-emissivity coating
The glass itself is one of the most important components of your replacement window, and if you have low-emissivity glass, it will go a long way toward making your home comfortable all year round. Low-E glass will prevent damage from ultraviolet rays that might pass through your window panes, because it has the capability of reflecting that sunlight and heat away from your windows.
This capability allows your home to stay cooler in the summer, and will reduce the workload on your air conditioner. Low-emissivity glass is coated with silver oxide, which is a powerful reflectant that also happens to be very cost-effective. Coupled with the gas that is included between your window panes, your windows will be maintained in a very high state of insulation, so as to minimize any transfer of heat through the windows. In fact, this helps to maintain the temperature of your window at approximately the same temperature of the room itself.
Spacer systems
You may not have heard much about spacer systems, but they play an important role in determining the amount of heat or cold which passes through glass panes. Spacer technology helps to reduce the rate of heat loss through windows and by reducing this heat loss rate, it increases the energy efficiency of the window itself. Taken altogether, the energy-efficient glass, the low-emissivity coating, and the spacer systems of replacement windows can provide maximum insulation for your home, and can save a great deal of money on your utility bills.
