Energy Efficient Windows and Doors

· 4 min read
Energy Efficient Windows and Doors

This helps maintain a cooler indoor environment by allowing less solar heat into your home. Moreover, the U-factor—another relevant metric—measures how well the window prevents heat from escaping. Triple glazing performs even better than double glazing to further reduce heating and cooling costs and is ideal for colder Victorian climates. An energy efficient window is one that helps to minimise the use of artificial heating and cooling in a building. Technological progress in the last 25 years has made it possible to design windows which insulate against heat and cold up to four times better than conventional windows. Double-insulated windows and doors are designed to reduce energy costs and lower noise pollution even in less predictable environments.
Energy efficient windows that are A++ rated will come at a higher price to less efficient windows, however some of this cost can be displaced by the heating bills you will make savings on. The technology works in a way that bi fold windows it repels the sun’s rays away on the outside but also reflects the heat back into your home on the inside. The heat inside your home is always trying to equalise with the lower/higher temperature outside your home.

Superior insulation properties, specialized glazing, and expert installation techniques ensure optimal performance. Many homeowners struggle with rising utility costs, especially when they need more heating and cooling. Good-quality glazing reduces the amount of energy filtering in or out without affecting the amount of light that comes in. Poor-quality glazing allows too much heat to enter in summer and lets out too much heat in winter, which means increased use of cooling and heating to maintain the right temperature.
Energy efficient windows reduce energy consumption, which is one step in the many-sided move towards environmental sustainability. An individual’s carbon footprint is primarily composed of the greenhouse gas emissions generated by their activities. Residential energy usage can make up to about 25% of a person’s individual carbon footprint. Energy efficient improvements in the home can help lower that portion of the carbon footprint. To further optimize the thermal performance of a window, energy efficient glass panes are covered with a low-emissivity (Low-E) coating. Low-E coating is a microscopically thin layer of metal or metal oxide that resists infrared and UV light.

We are offering for our windows the best and most modern warm edge spacer, offered by Swisspacer, Alupro, Technoform, Fenzi and Lisec. Salespeople often offer demonstrations on the benefits of special coatings on the glass to block or reflect solar heat. You can find many of these demos on YouTube by searching for “window low-e coating demonstrations”. Look for the certification label below on every window and patio door you buy. These ratings allow you to measure and compare the energy performance of similar products. If a product does not have this label, the NFRC has not verified its claims.
If they are primarily absorbing solar radiation , they can damage insulated glazing unit seals. Most window manufacturers will void their warranties if the film is installed on an IGU. Wood rot, cracked frames, inoperable locks… if you’re dealing with problems like these, new windows are worth it for your home.
Switching to more efficient windows, such as double- or triple-pane, from the old-fashioned single pane can save you as much as $125 to $465 per year on your electricity bills, according to the U.S. Your cost savings could be even higher, depending on your home's climate and which windows you plan to replace. For warmer regions, however, you may opt for glass window replacements with coatings designed to reduce heat gain.

For optimal energy efficiency, ensure that the air conditioning unit itself is well-maintained. Schedule regular check-ups to clean the filters and coils, ensuring it's operating at maximum efficiency. An air conditioner that runs efficiently uses less energy, which directly translates to lowered energy bills. When it comes to preparing your home for the relentless summer heat, an arsenal of strategies can effectively complement energy-efficient windows to maintain a cool environment.
Smart thermostats intelligently adjust cooling based on your preferences and schedule, ensuring your home remains at the desired temperature efficiently. During summer's peak, smart technology optimizes the use of your cooling systems, activating them only when necessary. As a result, you achieve a comfortable environment while conserving energy resources. When we interviewed builders, they told us the choice of windows wasn’t simple.

It uses low-e glass to reduce radiative heat transfer and high quality seals stopping heat from leaking between the low-e glass and aluminium frame. Others focus on how they can reduce their carbon footprint by using electric cars or taking fewer commercial flights. Since we spend so much time at home, we must consider making our homes greener.
Additionally, your home’s design, such as the size and number of windows, can also influence your choice of energy-efficient windows. For example, homes with larger window areas might benefit from double glazing to combat heat transfer. Additionally, you might qualify for energy efficiency incentives, further offsetting installation costs.
WERS-rated windows must meet a set benchmark for air infiltration performance. Most exceed this and achieve air leakage figures below 1 litre per second per square metre of window area. But also ensure that the doors are made of high-quality raw materials and professionally treated to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Professional installation is required to ensure that the energy-efficient door operates smoothly.

Materials such as uPVC and fibreglass can be toxic to manufacture and do not readily break down in landfill. UPVC is recyclable and in many countries this happens when homes are deconstructed as it is considered a valuable resource. However, in Australia this rarely happens as PVC recycling is limited and usually restricted to domestic recyclables—we have a long way to go with building material recycling. Aluminium is fully recyclable, but takes a great deal of energy to manufacture initially, although recycling takes just a fraction of the original manufacturing energy. Windows with a low U-value also have a surface temperature on the inside that is closer to the desired room air temperature. This is true in all seasons and means better thermal comfort for people near the window.
Many home systems, like your HVAC, use filters that need regular replacement or cleaning. Clean filters are more efficient and put less strain on your system, but this step often gets overlooked. It's best to refer to the manufacturer's recommendations for your specific equipment, but in general, you'll want to clean them every month or two. If you’re looking to replace your water heater, consider the type of water heater and the fuel it will use.