Energy efficient windows, otherwise known as energy saving windows, are windows specially designed to act as insulation for your home. Homes that are not well insulated have a harder time keeping temperatures regulated (warm in the winter and cold in the summer). This not only burdens your home’s or business’s A/C unit and heater, but it increases your home’s or business’s energy use as well. If you are looking to improve your home’s or business’s  insulation rating, or if you would like to spend less money on energy every month, then energy efficient windows are a great option for you.

Energy efficient windows use Low-Emissivity glass:

As stated above, energy efficient windows are designed with the insulation value of your home or business in mind. To accomplish this, most energy efficient windows are made using a special type of glass known as Low-Emissivity glass (aka Low-E glass). This type of glass is specially designed to prevent the sun’s rays from entering your home. Low-E glass has a very high rate of success and has the potential to block up to 97% of incoming solar radiation (ordinary glass only blocks around 20% of incoming solar radiation). Low-E glass can utilize a variety of techniques and technologies to accomplish this effect, but it alway involves a thin coating of heat reflecting metal. Low-E glass can either be hard-coat (a process in which melted tin is poured over the glass panes) or soft-coat (a process in which tin, silver or zinc is applied to the glass in a vacuum).

Energy efficient windows use advanced types of insulation:

Traditional glass windows have little to no insulation value. Frames are often made of wood or metal, both of which have poor insulation potential. Energy efficient windows utilize a variety of different insulation methods that make them superior to traditional window types. Polymer and urethane structural foams are used to great insulative effect. Some manufacturers even use gasses like Krypton or Argon between the panes to add additional insulation value. These gasses are odorless, colorless and harmless. But, they are able to prevent heat from entering or leaving your home.

Multiple panes are used and space is left between panes

Energy efficient windows alway utilize two or more panes of glass in their design. The more panes your windows have, the better insulated your home is going to be. By utilizing multiple panes of glass, energy efficient windows are even more suitable for regulating the temperature conditions of your home or business. Energy efficient windows also utilize spacers between each pane of glass in the window. This space also helps increase the windows insulation value. These spacers allow for more air (or Argon or Krypton depending on the specific energy efficient window you use) to exist and act as a barrier between your home or business and the outside. 

For more information about energy efficient windows, or if you’re interested in scheduling a consultation, contact Hiegel Glass today!