What Makes a Window Energy-Efficient?

Energy-efficient windows are a smart investment for your home, especially if you live in the South and deal with a lot of heat and humidity. But what exactly makes a window energy efficient and how do they work? Here’s what you need to know.

Understanding Energy Efficiency

First, it helps to understand what energy-efficient windows are. The Department of Energy estimates that up to a third of a home’s energy loss occurs through the windows. A poorly insulated home will lose more energy, meaning that it requires more energy to heat and cool your home. With drafty or single-paned windows, your HVAC system will have to work harder and longer to create a comfortable interior environment, driving up your energy costs in the process. Energy-efficient windows are designed to help prevent this thermal transfer into and out of your home so that your HVAC system doesn’t have to work so hard and your energy bills aren’t out of control.

Window Elements That Improve Energy Efficiency

Numerous components make up a window, and energy-efficient windows are composed of more elements that are designed to prevent thermal transfer. These features can include:

• Foam-filled frames – The frames of your windows can be a prime area for heat transfer into and out of your home. Filling the frame inside with foam insulation can help reduce this heat transfer.
• Low-E glass – Low-E glass coatings are a thin transparent layer that helps to deflect UV and infrared light from passing through the glass.
• Dual glazed glass – This is another great element for reducing heat transfer into and out of your home through the window glass. This design features two panes of glass with insulating argon or krypton gas between the panes.
• Weatherstripping – The seal around your window is also important for preventing air leaks and water infiltration. Energy-efficient windows will feature premium weatherstripping or triple-weatherstripping options to help prevent these issues.

As you can see, many of the things that make a window energy efficient are not immediately visible. In fact, energy-efficient windows are designed to ensure the aesthetics and functionality of the window aren’t compromised. You’ll still enjoy the energy-efficient benefits of these windows without having to compromise on the style, aesthetics, or visibility that your replacement windows allow.

How to Tell if a Window is Energy Efficient

If you’re in the market for energy-efficient windows, you can look for the specific features mentioned above. Additionally, energy-efficient windows typically come with an ENERGY STAR® rating that can make it easy to determine if it’s an energy-efficient product or not. ENERGY STAR is an independent program that tests and certifies different products to rate their energy efficiency. An ENERGY STAR label is an easy way to determine if the window you’re looking at is energy efficient.

Get Energy-Efficient Windows for Your Home

If you’re ready to start enjoying the benefits of energy-efficient windows on your home, contact WinTek USA today. We proudly offer and install energy-efficient windows for homeowners throughout Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and East Texas, and we’d be happy to provide you with the products and services you’re looking for as well.