Stop thinking, “How much is window remodeling going to cost?,” and start asking, “Which windows are the most durable and how much will money will my new windows put in my pocket?”
Since most of your energy costs today are constantly increasing, let’s focus on ways to minimize and cut these costs, without giving an arm and a leg. New energy-efficient glass packages are being found throughout most companies. To get specific, “Clima Tech” and “LoE” are taking over the glass industry and both are “ENERGY STAR” qualified. At Archway we believe you don’t need to replace and repair your windows every couple years, by doing it right the first time. Taking advantage of certain brands of insulating glass, including “XL Edge,” will guarantee you the least amount of failure for a minimum of 20 years. Below are the six most energy efficient types of window glazing or glass options.
- Gas Fills
By filling the space between window panes with inert gas, otherwise known as Argon or Krypton, you are able to improve the resistance to heat flow and ultimately improve the thermal functionality of your windows.
- Heat-Absorbing Tints
Tinted glass absorbs a large amount of the solar radiation that comes through a window and reduces visible transmittance, glare, and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC); this meaning the absorbed solar radiation that is released as heat inside a home. According to Energy.gov, “Blue- and green-tinted windows offer greater penetration of visible light and slightly reduce heat transfer compared with other colors of tinted glass.”
- Insulated
Insulated only benefits windows with two or more panes of glass, because they are set apart and then sealed tight, which leaves an insulating air space. Insulated window glazing mainly lowers the U-factor, meaning the rate in which a window conducts solar heat flow, and it also lowers SHGC, covered above.
- Low-Emissivity Coatings (low-e)
A low-emissivity coating is a microscopically thin, virtually invisible layer, which is deposited on the window glass. The low-e coating controls the heat transfer through windows and generally costs 10% to 15% more than regular windows, however (light bulb…) they reduce energy loss from as much as 30% to 50%.
- Reflective Coatings
Reflective coatings on window glass reduce the transmission of solar radiation, by blocking more light than heat and are commonly used in hot climates to control solar heat gain. Keep in mind, the reduced cooling energy demands may have an indirect relationship with electrical lighting. So, reflective glass is only used for special applications.
- Spectrally Selective Coatings
A spectrally selective coating is a particular type of low-e coating, which filters out 40% to 70% of heat typically transmitted through insulated window glass. This coating unlike the others, allows for the full amount of light transmission creating a low U-factor and SHGC, but a high visual transmittance (VC). “Computer simulations have shown that advanced window glazing with spectrally selective coatings can reduce the electric space cooling requirements of new homes in hot climates by more than 40%,” according to Energy.gov.
We get it and we totally understand. You want to dive in head first, but you’re still a bit skeptical, no problem! Put it to the test with out spending a dime! Check out the Energy Calculator, powered by Cardinal Corp to figure out exactly how much you can save on your gas and electric bill, right now! Got a question specific to your home? Give us a call, we have certified salesmen that will come out and inspect your home and help you make an informed decision on which windows are best for you.