Energy Efficient Windows – What to Know

Many pieces of your home come together to create an energy efficient environment. Your roof, siding, windows and doors all play a role. Since windows represent many holes cut into your walls, so they are very important to energy efficiency. Here is a look at what you need to know about energy efficient windows.

 

Choose the Right Materials

The material of the window frame is important to energy efficiency. Aluminum is not usually considered energy efficient, but if it’s made with newer techniques, then it gets closer to qualifying. Materials that work well for energy efficiency are vinyl, wood composite and fiberglass. When customizing the look of your home, consider as well how the material effects your total home efficiency.

 

Consider Multiple Panes for Insulation

If you think about how extra layers of clothes help make you warm in the cold, then it makes sense that two panes of glass insulate your home better than one pane. There is no glass on the market yet that completely blocks all temperature transference, but two working together can reduce it dramatically. As a bonus, certain gases pumped between the glass, like argon, makes your energy efficient windows even more efficient.

 

Ask About Special Coatings

There is still more that can be done to your window’s glass to make it energy efficient – special coatings. These coatings are designed to reflect infrared light, the major source of heat getting into your house. Ultraviolet light is also reduced, which can reduce the fading of furniture and carpets in your home. These coatings can be applied during window installation.

 

Energy efficient windows have a lot of benefits for your home, so learn all you can about them. The materials in the window frame matter, and so does the number of panes of glass. Special coatings and filler gas can add more efficiency to your windows.