One of the most frequently asked questions that we get asked from customers here at Casa Bella Windows and Doors is, “how do window energy ratings work?” That’s because homeowners are eager to increase the energy efficiency of their homes, but they want to be sure that they are making the right choices in this effort. They also want to be sure that the energy savings they’ll enjoy with upgraded windows will be worth the initial cost of installation.
Why are Energy Ratings Important?
Today, when you’re getting replacement windows in Toronto, design and function aren’t the only important things you need to consider. You should also be mindful of a window’s energy rating and what that can mean for your home.
Windows that carry a high rating for energy consumption are designed to help reduce the amount of energy consumption it takes to maintain ideal climate control within your home; this means that when you upgrade your windows to a more efficient option, you save money by using less heat to warm your house in the window. It will also take less air conditioning to cool your house in the summer.
Any time you contribute to less energy consumption in your home on an ongoing basis, you’ll also be contributing to helping create a more sustainable environment in the world around us. Purchasing high performance windows is one of the best ways to achieve this goal.
Understanding the Rating on Your Windows
As in any case where a product’s capabilities are guided by complicated scientific information, it isn’t easy to understand every aspect that factors into rating windows for energy efficiency. Here are a few of the things that are considered when rating a window:
- Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, or SHGC (The amount of solar heat that can pass through your window)
- U-Factor (Rate of heat transfer)
- Energy Rating (A calculation that factors in U-Rating, SHGC, and air leakage)
- Visible Transmittance (The amount of light that can pass through your window)
- R-Value (Resistance to heat transfer)
The final determination of a window’s energy-efficiency rating will factor in all of these values while also accounting for the capabilities of the glass itself rather than the entire product.
In Canada, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) determines the energy efficiency of a window. In contrast, the National Fenestration Rating Council evaluates windows manufactured in the United States for energy efficiency. Windows approved by either one of these organizations usually qualify for rebates for energy efficient windows in that respective country.
Energy Star
While you may be interested enough to want to take the time to learn about all of these measurements and standards, the easiest way to determine whether you have energy efficient replacement windows or not is to look for the Energy Star certification. A product meets these requirements when it has been tested in a laboratory, and the results have also been evaluated by an independent third-party organization composed of specialists.
When to Buy New Windows
Given all of the advantages you gain by purchasing energy efficient windows, there’s no wrong time to decide to have them installed. When you work with Casa Bella Windows and Doors, you’ll gain the advantage of a wide variety of beautiful choices in quality windows.
In this situation, you want to be sure that you’re making the right choice so that you don’t get stuck with something that you’re not happy with after the entire installation job has been completed. While people often pay close attention to the practical aspects of their windows, like the energy-efficiency rating, they sometimes let their design go overlooked.
When they consider window design, it usually involves personal taste regarding a particular style as viewed from the store rather than in the context of their home; this can be a fatal flaw. After all, purchasing and installing new windows is not a minor purchase, and it is difficult to change without a significant economic burden.
If you are uncertain about your windows’ energy rating or their aesthetic design, the best option available to you is to contact us at Casa Bella Windows and Doors to get help determining what option will work best in your home.
