Understanding Energy-Efficient Windows Part 1: Our Tips

Your windows play an important part in your home’s energy efficiency and comfort. High-performance windows like the ones we offer can help keep your home cool in summer and warm in winter. Our windows also provide UV protection. In this two-part blog series, we will explain how to choose the right kind of energy-efficient window for your home and talk about the benefits of our replacement windows. First, here are some tips on choosing windows for our area.

Go for ENERGY STAR®-Certified Windows
The first thing you need to do is to choose ENERGY STAR® certified windows for your replacement windows in Edison, NJ. These windows meet or exceed your local energy code requirements and provide savings on your energy bills without sacrificing performance, comfort, and features. Not all ENERGY STAR certified windows are the same, however. Energy-efficient windows have different values for their U-Factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), and Visible Transmittance (VT).

Understand the NFRC Label
Understanding these values is the key to choosing the right Monroe, NJ, replacement windows for your home. You can find these values on your windows’ National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label. The U-Factor is a measure of the window’s rate of heat loss — the lower the U-Factor, the better the window’s insulating value. The SHGC is a number between zero and one — the lower the SHGC the better the window is in preventing unwanted heat gain.

The VT number measures how much natural light can enter your room through the window. It’s a number between zero and one — the higher the VT, the more natural light gets through. Once you’ve found the values for your window, it’s time to compare the values of different windows and figure out the right one for your home.

Choose Windows with the Right Values
New Jersey has a climate that requires both heating and cooling, so it’s important to get windows that both have a good U-Factor and SHGC value. As the expert in window replacement in Carteret, NJ, we recommend a window with a moderate solar gain and a non-metal insulating frame. The U-Factor should be less than or equal to 0.22; the SHGC should be between 0.21 and 0.40. This configuration will keep you comfortable all year round and can save you money in your heating and cooling bills.

Follow these tips to enjoy the benefits of our energy-efficient windows. If you need more information and assistance, then please give us a call. Valiant Home Remodelers has 60 years of experience helping homeowners improve their homes. Contact us to learn more tips about choosing energy-efficient windows, or to request a free in-home estimate. Watch out for the next part of this series where we’ll talk about the benefits of our various windows.