As a homeowner, one of the best cost-cutting measures you can do is install energy efficient windows. Much of the energy efficiency of a window comes from its ability to retain or slow the loss of heat to the cooler external environment. Installing an energy efficient set of windows can drastically lower the cost of your monthly heating bill by helping to retain more heat in your home. The windows are where much of the heat in the home is lost, so by reducing this factor, you can significantly improve the overall energy efficiency of your home.
One of the most important factors in determining the energy efficiency of a window is by evaluating the window’s U value. The U-value is a rating given to windows that describes their relative energy efficiency. The lower the number, the more energy efficient the window is. When all windows used to be made of a single pane of glass, you would be hard-pressed to find a window with a U-value lower than 5. With the introduction of double glazed windows, which are windows with two panes of glass, the U-value of most windows has approached 1.5. With the recent introduction of triple glazed windows, we’re now seeing windows with U-values approaching values of 0.8 or lower. While energy efficiency is a great selling point for triple glazed windows, there are many characteristics of triple glazed windows that can be beneficial.
A key selling point for triple glazed windows is their ability to reduce ambient noise from your external environment. If you live in a relatively noisy neighbourhood or simply want to make things as quiet as possible around the house, consider installing triple glazed windows instead of double glazed.
The main reason someone will purchase a new, energy-efficient window is to save money, but newer technologies often come at a higher price. Triple glazed windows are no exception, as they are more expensive than an equivalent double glazed window. When purchasing new windows, simply ask yourself if the benefit of saving money on heating costs in the long run outweighs the higher cost of the window in the short run. The time period estimated to get your money back on energy savings is around 5 years.
If you want to reduce the amount of sunlight in your home, triple glazed windows are for you. They let in less light than double glazed windows. They also absorb less heat than other windows. Sometimes you want a little less light in a room, or a room to not be heated as much in the summer. Consider a room like a sunroom – it might be nice to reduce the heating effect that sunlight has on the room.
A qualified window installer like Eco Choice is committed to a quality installation of the best energy efficient windows to suit your needs. Whether you’re planning for the long-term or short-term, contact Eco Choice today to get more information on what windows are best for your home.
