Home Energy Guide: Choosing Energy Efficient Windows for Your Home | Fort Worth, TX

Home Energy Guide: Choosing Energy Efficient Windows for Your Home | Fort Worth, TX

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Homeowners in Fort Worth, TX, and other regions in the United States have been continuously making home improvements since time immemorial. As times change, so do the technologies used to build or install their home’s various components, including roofs, doors, and windows.

Window upgrades have significantly gained a particular liking from homeowners, especially with the advent of energy efficient windows that boost our home’s aesthetic and help in considerably slashing the monthly energy bill. According to the US Department of Energy, they could potentially reduce your monthly energy utility expenses by approximately 30 percent.

However, since energy efficient windows are still new in the market, you need to understand the components in their name. These aspects include the window design, glass type, frame material, low emissivity coatings, air sealing properties, and recommendations from the National Fenestration Rating Council and Energy Star, as discussed below.

Types of energy efficient window designs

More like any other component within your home, energy efficient windows come in designs based on their functionality. The various types of energy-conserving window designs are often derived from the window’s opening technique and structural architecture. It would help if you kept in mind that each window design has inherent properties that determine its energy efficiency level.

The first design is the single or double-hung model, traditional design with two sashes enclosed within a single frame. Both sections move vertically to open or close for double-hung energy efficient windows, while in single-hung windows, the bottom section opens upwards. Even though these models are suitable for energy-conscious homeowners, they aren’t the most effective option for homeowners living in areas with extreme conditions.

Another design used for energy efficient windows is the casement style. This design is particularly suited for homes located in windy areas. With hinges such as those found on doors, casement windows open sideways and close when blown inward by the wind. The downside to this design is that you may have to create a maintenance schedule for the hinges lest it may become inoperable when left unchecked for a while. That aside, expert window installers recommend casement windows with an opening knob on the outside.

You can also go for single or double-sliding window designs, which slide horizontally across a track to either open or close. Additional options include awning windows with a single glass pane that opens from outside, just like the casement windows. However, awning designs are often combined with another window model.

Glass types

Having seen your energy efficient window design options, you need to consider the glazing type used to make the window if you’re genuinely focused on lowering the energy consumption of your home. This consideration should be informed by factors such as your area climate and the window’s building design and orientation. You may even consider having varying glazing designs in the different rooms of your home. The common types of glazing include insulated window glazing, spectrally selective coatings, and low emissivity coatings.

For starters, insulated window glazing refers to double or triple-paned windows. The insulation process entails the panes being held apart, joined together, and sealed in an airtight manner, leaving some air space in between that acts as the insulation. There are low emissivity coatings, commonly known as the low e-coatings. These are crucial components in energy efficient windows since windows with this glazing type come at a steeper price than any other window model. You could find yourself paying 10 to 30 percent more, but this shouldn’t worry you since they could reduce energy consumption by 30 to 50 percent. A microscopically-sized metal oxide layer, the low e-coating reduces the U-factor of your window, and it exists in different forms to allow for high, low, and moderate solar gain.

Lastly, the spectrally selective coatings are a sub-type of the low e-coating window systems. Spectrally particular layers block out 40 to 70 percent of the heat passing through the windows while still allowing all the light to pass. Their design allows them to reflect specific wavelengths while remaining clear for visible light to pass through. Research shows that they can potentially reduce homeowners’ cooling needs living in hot areas by 40 percent.

The frame

You can increase your home’s energy efficiency by focusing on reducing the frame’s thermal resistance surrounding your energy efficient windows. However, it’s worth noting that frames made with fiberglass, vinyl, wood, and composite have a notably higher thermal resistance than metallic ones.

First off is the wooden frame, which insulates your home quite well. However, wooden frames require frequent maintenance due to their wear and tear. Luckily, you can apply aluminum or vinyl cladding to reduce the frequency of the maintenance calls.

Next, there’s the aluminum and other metallic frames. Aluminum and metallic structures are light and structurally firm but conduct heat very efficiently. To stop this from deterring the effectiveness of your energy efficient windows, you can have a window replacement specialist add a thermal break in the form of an insulating strip amid the frame and sash.

Homeowners can also go for composite window frames created using composite products like laminated strand lumber and particleboard mixed with plastics. These frames are strong, durable, and have just the right thermal properties necessary for an energy efficient home. As aforementioned, you could come across fiberglass and vinyl frame options, which also have impeccable thermal resistance characteristics.

Air sealing properties

To properly seal your energy efficient windows, you should do your due diligence when looking for a window installation company. It would mainly be best if you steered clear contractors who excessively use foams and sealants to fit your windows during installation. This is because, even though these substances ensure windows are correctly fitted, they lack essential waterproofing qualities, a phenomenon bound to cause trouble down the line. Pre-installation waterproofing should be done sometime before the scheduled installation date to prevent any surprises in the future.

It’s essential to understand the type of air seal used in various designs regarding energy-efficient windows. For instance, swinging window designs like casement windows and awnings typically use compression seals that bind hermetically with the weatherstripping when the window’s shut.

Energy Window Solutions, a reliable window installation company

At Energy Window Solutions, energy efficient window installation, repair, and replacement is our forte. With years of experience in the industry, we are among the leading window supply and contracting companies in Fort Worth, TX. Our company supplies, installs, and replaces Rehau and Slimline windows along with top triple-pane window brands. Our technicians are always ready to serve you no matter the time of day.