Understanding Energy Efficient Windows

With so much talk of becoming more energy efficient, reducing green house gas emissions and saving our planet, many homeowners are searching for ways to become more energy efficient.

One sure fire way to reduce heating and cooling costs in your home is to hire the services of a window contractor to install energy efficient windows. Tritons Gutters & Siding has provided this question and answer article to help answer your questions regarding energy efficient vinyl windows.

1. Is there really a difference between energy efficient and standard windows?
   As a window contractor, I have seen first hand the difference between standard windows and low-E coated windows. Firstly, low-E coated windows have a coating on the glass to reduce the emissive or heat transfer of the glass. This reduces the heat loss from your house in the winter and it reduces the amount of heat that comes into your home during the summer. This results in a lower heating and cooling bill. Although low-E coated windows are more expensive initially, many homeowners see pay back in as little as four years and the homeowner enjoys the increased comfort throughout the life of the window.

2. How much energy is typically lost through a home’s windows?
   Of course, this answer is dependent on the weather conditions where the home resides as well as the age of the existing windows. Many New Jersey residents choose Triton Gutters & Siding as their window contractor because they appreciate the frank advice we provide. We encourage our clients to think of their windows as thermal holes. An average home may lose 30% of its heat or air conditioning through its windows. I recommend energy efficient vinyl windows because they will save my clients money each and every month. Typically, we will see payback on the energy efficient windows anywhere from two to ten years. In fact, with new construction, the higher initial cost of the energy efficient windows can be offset because you will probably need a smaller, less expensive heating and cooling system. Finally, energy efficient, more durable windows may cost less overall because they have lower maintenance and replacement costs.

3. What are other advantages of energy efficient windows versus standard windows?
   As a window contractor, I find that our clients are often concerned that their energy efficient windows won’t let in the sun’s heat and light, which we New Jersey residents so greatly appreciate in the cold winter months. The fact is energy efficient windows give you the best of both worlds. When the temperatures are cold, the windows will welcome the sun’s heat and light and won’t let it escape once we capture it. When the weather is warm, we don’t want the heat – but we want the light. Advancements in window technology let you have it both ways.

   Low-E glass coatings, in the summer months, will reflect the sun’s long wave heat energy while admitting visible light, thereby keeping the house cooler in the summer. In cold climates, they reflect long-wave radiant heat back into the house, again while admitting visible light. Floors, walls and furniture absorb this shorter wavelength visible light.

   It reradiates from them as long-wave heat energy that the reflective, low-E coating keeps inside.

   In addition, low-E coatings improve the insulating value of a window roughly as much as adding an additional pane of glass. Also, combing low-E Coatings with low-conductance gas fillings, such as argon or krypton, boosts energy efficiency by nearly 100% over clear glass.

At Triton Gutters, our window professionals take their role as a window contractor very seriously and promise to provide the right insight, regarding budget and efficiency, to help you choose the best windows for your cherished home. To discover all the many advantages of owning energy efficient windows, contact Triton Gutters today!