Energy efficient windows have become a must-have feature in new homes and when doing renovations. Windows are responsible for as much as 25 to 30% of residential heating and cooling costs in the average household, raising energy consumption costs in summer and winter.
Upgrading to energy efficient replacement windows can save you money on your hydro bills and make your home comfortable. Casa Bella Windows and Doors does energy efficient window replacement in Oakville, Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Aurora, and Toronto.
But what types of energy efficient windows are out there? We’re here to make sure you make an informed decision when you replace your windows and doors in Toronto and the GTA.
Essential Features of Energy Efficient Windows
There are certain features that all energy efficient windows must have in order to cut down on drafts and heat loss or gain. These features include:
Double Glazing: Double, triple and quadruple-glazing will improve insulation. Triple and quadruple glazing may be desirable in harsh winter climates but can also impact light transmittance, so double is often the best way to go.
Low-Emissivity Glass: Low-E glass uses a thin, transparent coating of tin oxide or silver that will allow sunlight to pass through the window but block heat radiation. The coating blocks long-wavelengths from the sun, which contain heat while letting in short-wavelengths, which contain just the light. It reduces the heat your home absorbs when the hot summer sun is beating down on it.
Argon Gas Fill: A fill of an inert gas like argon is sealed into the unit to reduce condensation, as they do not contain moisture, unlike air. It also cuts down on heat exchange happening through the window.
Insulated Frames and Sashes: These reduce drafts and heat exchange around the glass itself.
High Performance
If you’re going to replace your windows, you want a quality upgrade that offers superior performance, improved features, and a design that matches your style. They should look good, last years to come, and make your home comfortable.
Our premium-grade, Architectural Plus replacement windows offer superior thermal performance. Using Super Spacer technology, they prevent heat from escaping, eliminate condensation, and halt the growth of mold around your windows.
The Super Spacer is an extruded foam warm edge spacer. It’s resistant to ozone, water, the elements, and aging, and remains flexible despite temperature and barometric changes.
These high-end vinyl windows are coloured in the material itself, not painted over. That means you won’t have to repaint faded, cracked, or chipped paint. Vinyl can save you a lot of maintenance.
What Types of Windows Are More Efficient?
These types of energy efficient windows are inherently more efficient thanks to their design. Even without features like low-emissivity glass or an argon gas fill, the design of these windows helps to insulate your home and support your HVAC system.
Casement Windows: One of the most commonly used types in new construction, casement windows offer a tighter seal. They’re made for places that experience high winds, as they seal tightly when wind blows directly toward them.
They open and close with a crank, and when the weather is mild, they’re great for catching a breeze and letting in fresh air. It also won’t cut up your view the way that other designs will.
Awning Windows: These are much like casements but swing upward, fitting into limited spaces and providing ventilation. The advantage of awning windows is that they can add extra light and ventilation.
Picture Windows: Picture windows come in a variety of shapes and sizes but don’t open. If you enjoy catching a fresh breeze on a pleasant spring day, they’re not the type for you. However, because they don’t open, there are fewer opportunities for sealing to break down and let in drafts.
Double-Hung Windows: This design is made to make cleaning easier, as you can usually clean the outside glass from indoors without having to climb ladders or use lengthy tools. The bottom slides up to open the window, and it’s the model that your standard window-mounted air conditioner was designed for.
Proper Installation Makes a Big Difference
When you invest in energy efficient windows, you want to know that you’re getting the most out of them. Proper installation from a professional improves the value of your upgrade and the resale value of your home. It cuts down on drafts and improves the durability of your new windows.
Get in touch today if you feel that it’s time to upgrade.
