How To Spot Energy Efficient Windows | Lewisville, TX
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The hot, humid, yet rainy climate that you’ll often experience in Lewisville, TX, can rapidly make your home feel uncomfortable if you haven’t adequately prepared your home to deal with the often unpredictable weather. One often overlooked area of home renovation is the property’s windows, and the windows you choose can make a big difference to your home’s comfort level and its energy efficiency.
In hot climates, the choice of window matters tremendously. Energy efficient windows are designed to keep the hot, humid air outside and the cooled AC air inside. Not only does this help you to keep your home a comfortable temperature, but it can also lower your energy bills. Special glazing on windows can also help to reduce the percentage of solar heat that penetrates your home. For example, up to 70% of the heat from the afternoon sun can be blocked out, ensuring your home doesn’t become uncomfortably warm during the summer months.
One of the easiest ways to spot energy efficient windows is to look for the Energy Star rating sticker that’s often displayed on windows that meet or exceed the requirements set out by the government-backed Energy Star certification. Energy Star is a simple, credible, and unbiased rating system used by customers and businesses alike to ensure the best decisions are made when it comes to these windows. Approximately 40% of the top Fortune 500 companies partner with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to deliver energy efficient solutions that have helped both American businesses and families to reduce their energy costs. In 2018 alone, Energy Star helped save $35 billion in energy costs across the United States.
Which Energy Star Rating Applies to Lewisville, TX?
Lewisville is in the South Central zone. In this zone, to be acknowledged as an energy efficient window, the Energy Star rating dictates it must have the following credentials:
- U-factor of 0.30 or less
- SHGC of 0.25 or less
Skylights have separate requirements and must have a U-factor of 0.53 and an SHGC of 0.28 or less. Doors with windows may also have slightly different ratings of 0.25 or less for both SHGC and U-factor, if the door is less than 50% glass. If the door is more than 50% glass, the glass must have a U-factor of 0.30 or less, as well as an SHGC factor of 0.25 or less. The U-factor relates to how much a window, door, or skylight conducts non-solar heat, and the lower the number, the better. SHGC number is a record of what percentage of solar heat passes through the window. An SHGC rating of 0.30 means approximately 30% of the solar heat passes through the window.
Features of Energy Efficient Windows
Energy efficient windows are typically double- or triple-paned glass. Inert gases such as argon are housed between the panes of glass to vastly improve a window’s ability to insulate against unwanted heat flow. Whether it’s avoiding unnecessary heat loss in winter or preventing your home from overheating in summer, an energy efficient window can easily help to maintain an ambient temperature.
Energy efficient windows will also have spacers to keep window panes the recommended width apart, which has the added benefit of reducing condensation.
Some windows will advertise the fact that the glass is coated with something that creates a low emissivity. This is often marketed as “Low-E” glass that reflects heat energy. It also reflects UV light away, protecting furnishings from UV-induced fading.
Ways to Make Windows More Efficient
Unfortunately, heat loss through windows represents between 10 and 20% of a home’s energy loss. If you’re on a limited budget, there are several things that you can do to improve the efficiency of your existing windows.
Window treatments can improve efficiency in both winter and summer. Thermal insulation provided by draperies can reduce cold drafts and help to prevent heat from entering or leaving your home.
Awnings on windows can reduce the amount of solar heat that enters your home by up to 65%, if used during the summer on south-facing windows. When used on western-facing windows, the reduction in heat gained can be as much as 77%. Awnings can be installed on individual windows, portions of exterior walls, or across multiple windows.
Windows with shutters and storm panels are also energy efficient. Insulating storm panels can offer a temporary solution to heat gain or loss, while screens inside or outside your home can improve efficiency year-round. If you see a home in TX with shutters, awnings, draperies, and Energy Star certification, it’s likely to benefit from high efficiency.
Choosing the Right Frame for Energy Efficient Windows
Window frames can be made from wood, aluminum, fiberglass, or vinyl. An aluminum frame is the least efficient frame, as it doesn’t trap heat very well. For areas such as Lewisville that can experience fluctuating temperatures and hot weather, an aluminum frame is not recommended. Wood frames can also react negatively to the heat and humidity in Texas, especially in areas that are close to the coast, where exposure to extra salt in the air can cause the frames to rot faster.
If you see window frames that are made from fiberglass, these are more energy efficient than wood or aluminum. A fiberglass frame can be an excellent choice to complement energy efficient windows as it is a moderately efficient choice in itself. Vinyl frames or structures made from vinyl-like materials are the best choices for hot climates as they offer the highest energy efficiency and durability. A “Low-E” glass partnered with a vinyl frame is one of the most economical, efficient combinations that you can buy.
Ask Our Experts!
Our professional window installers at Energy Window Solutions are no stranger to energy efficient windows. We build and install a variety of window styles, each designed to keep out heat, cold, and noise. Contact us today to find out more about the energy efficient windows we offer and how to spot the next energy efficient window deal that’s perfect for you.