This information is from The US Department of Energy. Find this article and many other online at The DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website.
Windows can be one of your home's most attractive features. Windows provide
views, daylighting, ventilation, and solar heating in the winter. Unfortunately,
they can also account for 10% to 25% of your heating bill. During the summer,
sunny windows make your air conditioner work two to three times harder. If you
live in the Sun Belt, look into new solar control spectrally selective windows,
which can cut the cooling load by more than half.
If your home has single-pane windows, as almost half of U.S. homes do,
consider replacing them. New double-pane windows with high-performance glass
(e.g., low-e or spectrally selective) are available on the market. In colder
climates, select windows that are gas filled with low-emissivity (low-e)
coatings on the glass to reduce heat loss. In warmer climates, select windows
with spectrally selective coatings to reduce heat gain. If you are building a
new home, you can offset some of the cost of installing more efficient windows
because doing so allows you to buy smaller, less expensive heating and cooling
equipment.
If you decide not to replace your windows, the simpler, less costly measures
listed below can improve the performance of your windows.
Buying New Windows
New windows are long-term investments that have a large impact
on your home's energy systems. Today, there are many new window technologies
available that are worth considering, especially those with the ENERGY STAR®
label. Glazing materials now come with a variety of selective coatings and other
features; frames are available in aluminum, wood, vinyl, fiber glass, or
combinations of these materials. Each type of glazing material and frame has
advantages and disadvantages.
Copyright © by Energy Saver News; WattBusters All Right Reserved.
