Energy Swing Windows & Doors | WindowSmarts - How do you evaluate energy saving potential?

1-877-SWING CLEAN info@energyswingwindows.com Window Smarts 11. How do you evaluate energy saving potential? How To Evaluate Energy Savings To accurately measure the energy saving potential of a window, you must look at the window as a whole unit. All of the individual com- ponents must work together to ensure the overall performance of the window. Everything from the window’s frame, sash, glass, and installation all contribute to saving energy. Strength, Durability and Maintenance When evaluating the energy saving potential of a window, glass has the biggest impact. Low-E glass works like a one way heat mirror, rejecting the sun’s heat and UV rays in the summer and reflecting heat back into the house in the winter. Low conductivity glass spacers significantly reduce heat loss around the edges of the glass. Inert gasses, like argon, reduce heat flow across the space between glass surfaces. When comparing products, you should ask for information, including the strength and durability of the windows or doors you’re considering. How do the contractor’s products stand up in weather condition testing? How do the products you’re interested in compare to other products on the market? The materials used in windows, for example, include vinyl, glass, aluminum reinforcements, sealants, and weather-stripping. These materials contribute to the overall performance of the finished product. When investing in new windows, consider if the materials and quality of the components used in the window are made to last for the long term, and investigate the maintenance required throughout the life of the product. Industry Advances One of the most recent advances in the window glass industry is glass that requires less maintenance than average glass used in replace- ment windows. It is a new glass, called Neat Glass, that has a coating that uses the power of the sun’s rays and rainwater to keep glass looking cleaner, longer. This coating technology will reduce window maintenance greatly compared to windows without the coating. This is definitely a major advantage. Ask if your contractor is using the latest advances in his products.