 Energy Savings
If you’re like most homeowners, you’ve been watching energy prices
continually rise. Whether replacing windows in an older house or choosing
windows for a new home, your decisions on the type of windows to buy will be
among the most important decisions you will make in terms of energy use.
Because of the impact windows have on both heat loss and heat gain, proper
selection of products can be confusing. To add to the complexity, window
glazing technology has changed tremendously in recent years. The best window
glazings today insulate almost four times as well as the best commonly
available windows from twenty years ago.
Window technology has improved dramatically even in the last decade. Today’s
advanced window systems can truly become more efficient than exterior walls.
Windows are approx 70% glass on average so choosing the right glass
combination will play a significant role in the performance of your new
windows and greatly increase your energy savings. While frame materials
comprise approx 30% of the overall window they play a vital role in ensuring
your window stays warm. Aside from structure, a windows frame is responsible
for keeping the glass edge warm.
Whole building design treats a building as an integrated system rather than
a series of independent components. This approach is particularly
appropriate when considering the role of windows, skylights, and other forms
of fenestration in a building. The effective design, selection, and
orientation of windows can significantly reduce the heating and cooling
needs of buildings. In addition, day lighting strategies using windows and
skylights can offset lighting use, if the daylight is properly controlled
and integrated with electric lighting control systems. Because of their
ability to reduce both cooling and lighting requirements, windows can be an
important part of design strategies to dynamically manage electric loads and
peak power use.
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