Your home’s windows increase the enjoyment of being indoors, but the glass in the windows is a poor insulator. If your home has single-pane windows, you have very little protection from heat entering your home in the summer or it leaving in the winter. Although you can close your drapes, add window film, or use screening materials, your best bet to save money on electric or fuel bills is to consider Energy Star or thermal windows.

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We’ve found that windows designed and engineered for specific climates go a long way in helping cut heating and cooling costs. Today’s windows use dual panes, chemical coatings and gases between the panes to stop heat gain or loss from occurring.

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Considering that the windows in your home may be responsible for 50 percent of your heating and cooling bills, replacing them may be one of the best long-term investments you make for your home.

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Thermal windows use the gas between the panes to retard the thermal flow of heat indoors or outside, along with chemical coatings.

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The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) partners with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to evaluate the effectiveness of windows based on their performance by climate factors.

THE NFRC and the EPA use the following criteria to evaluate the thermal effectiveness of windows based on regional factors:

U-factor.

This refers to how much thermal transmittance the window has.

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Solar heat gain (SHG).

This measures the amount of heat that comes indoors from the ultraviolet rays of the sun.

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Visible transmittance (VT).

This shows how much light passes through the window into your rooms.

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Air leakage (AL).

Windows that have little AL are more energy efficient.

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Condensation resistance (CR).

This is an important factor in humid and rainy climates.

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When shopping for new windows, look for the NFRC or Energy Star label to choose the most suitable insulated windows for your climate. If you don’t understand what the label means, consult a professional who can help you through each step of the process. Little about window replacement is do-it-yourself, and relying on window specialist will help you get what you need to lower energy bills.

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Another good reason to replace your windows is to increase overall energy efficiency of your home. We’ve found that homeowners who put money into energy efficiency not only lower their fuel and electric bill, but they also increase their home’s value to others, important if you intend to sell your home down the road. Today’s home buyers are savvy about energy savings, and many national organizations associated with Realtors and home builders report that improved windows increase buyer interest.

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The prospective purchaser may consider your home a better value than one without insulated windows. The buyer may also qualify for an energy efficient mortgage if your home has thermal windows, which makes some aspects of the mortgage approval process easier. Besides increasing your home’s energy efficiency, thermal windows also lower the noise coming from outside. If you live on a busy street or in a noisy neighborhood, upgrading your windows will not only lower your heating and cooling costs, it’ll also give you more peace and privacy inside your home.

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Save time and money, call Watson Windows for window installation in Dallas. Let their professional installers help you choose the right product for you and make your home more energy efficient.

By: Haley