When shopping for new replacement windows there is a great deal of information you need to know. First of all, it’s important to know that not every new, replacement window on the market is energy efficient. That’s right, just because a window is being sold, does not mean that it is high quality and energy efficient. If it is not a good window, save your money. You are most likely better off holding onto your old windows. The key is to only do business with trusted, respected and experienced companies. Companies that only carry top of the line, energy efficient windows.
Next, you should educate yourself on the keys to a window’s energy efficiency. First off, U-factor is important. This is essentially the heat lost and gained by the material it is made from. Essentially, certain window materials lose more heat than other materials do. In this case, the lower U factor number is best. A low number means that the window is energy efficient and insulates better.
Now when it comes to the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) the higher the SHGC the better. Basically a higher SHGC means that the window you’ve chosen will collect more heat from the sun. This is good because sunlight is free and that means lower heating bills every month.
This next one is pretty self-explanatory. Make sure you choose a replacement window with as little air leakage as possible. This is measured in terms of cubic feet per minute per square foot. Think about this in the cold, winter months. You want to keep the cold air out while keeping your room warm inside. If you have a high air leakage ratio, a great deal of air will be escaping. This will not only give you uncomfortable temps, but it will affect your pocketbook. Again, choosing a trusted, experienced and educated window company should definitely be first on your to do list. Here at Mad City windows, our Valley Brook Premium windows are some of the highest quality, most energy efficient windows you will find. They meet all of the criteria listed above and will keep your home comfortable while reducing your monthly energy bills.
