Energy-Efficient Windows For A Cold Winter

Posted on Friday, November 18th, 2011

Do you have so much money that tossing 30% of your energy dollars out of a window isn’t a big deal? Every year that is what most Americans do. On average, home’s lose 30% of their energy through the doors and windows despite the widespread availability of energy-efficient windows.

Any opening of a building’s outer shell is technically called fenestration, normally it is a generic that builder use in reference to all of the windows, skylights and doors of a structure. Fenestration is an important consideration if you’re concerned about energy-efficiency because it is normally much less efficient than the insulated walls that make up the walls.

Since there are more windows than doors, as a whole, windows are more inefficient than any single door. Replacing your old windows with new energy-efficient models will improve your energy bill every month, guaranteed. The payback period for selecting energy-efficient units ranges from two years to ten years.

Today’s Windows – How They Work

Early windows were basically just holes cut in walls to allow light and air into rooms. With the invention of glass built-into movable frames, people didn’t have to worry about wind and water crashing through their homes and buildings.

Since the demand for energy-efficient windows has grown. To keep up with the demand, manufacturers have made windows much more sophisticated using the best and latest technologies. Instead of wood, many manufacturers are using energy-efficient vinyl windows. Single-pane glass has been replaced by double and triple paned glass with insulating materials separating multiple chambers. Inert gasses are pumped between the panes, adding improving the energy-efficiency even further. Even the glass itself is coated to reflect heat.

These innovations mean that windows can significantly contribute to a home’s comfort and energy-efficiency. By letting in sunlight, they provide warmth in winter, which will save energy and lower monthly heating bills. Proper design and the use of exterior shading can also lower cooling costs in the summer.

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