What is Energy Star, how does it affect your windows and what are its added benefits? Energy Star is a program that was developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. It is internationally recognized and is a trusted mark of high efficiency meaning that a product, home or building is certified as energy efficient. This also means that it complies with certain requirements laid and has been evaluated, inspected and labelled by a third-party energy advisor ensuring that your product is built with features that improves the comfort and lifestyle inside of your home. 

 

 

Windows that are energy star rated will have a little blue seal of approval which ensures that they are ranked among the more energy efficient. This is based on the results from the testing of the glass, framing reinforcement, spacers and gas inserts. 

 

Typical features of an Energy-Star window are its insulation, noise barriers and whether it protects the interior of your home. A window’s performance is measured by a magnitude of factors. The most common key readings are its U-Factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) and it’s Energy Rating (ER). 

 

The U-Factor measures the rate of heat transfer from the window’s interior-exterior temperature over a period of time through the product due to conduction, convection and long wave in-fared radiation. This gives you an idea of how well a window prevents heat from entering your home. The lower the U-Factor the better.

 

 

Energy Rating (ER) are a great indication of the overall quality of a window, as it grabs all the important energy data to give a solid score. It is calculated from a formula that balances heat loss (U-factor), air leakage loss and potential passive solar gain (SHGC) of a product.

 

 

Energy Star rated windows have tighter seals and a more advanced construction than its earlier counterparts. Because of this it prevents hot and cold air from escaping, keeping your home at an optimal desired temperature year round while withstanding the seasonal elements. Factors that determine higher energy performance are which glass type, glass coatings and gas insert your window has. 

 

Double and triple pane windows can help reduce outside noise while Low-E coating reflects both infrared and ultraviolet light. This coating reduces heat transfer and prevents any damages or fading to belongings inside your home. For higher insulation, argon gas is inserted between the panes helping you save in energy consumption long term.

 

All things considered, it’s easy to see how Energy Star windows can save you energy and money in the long run, all while improving the overall aesthetic of your home. 

 

Most provinces offer a tax credit to homeowners that are willing to install energy efficient windows in their home. If you are considering eligibility for home improvement rebates and grants from the government get in contact with your window representation for more information to see if you qualify.

 

To ensure that your home meets the Energy Star energy efficiency standard, it’s recommended to work with a window installer that is licensed and experienced. Our specialists at Arctic Vinyl are more than happy to assist you with this along with any questions you may have about changing to energy efficient windows to maximize on energy consumption.