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Energy Efficient Windows
Windows in bad repair or that leak too much
air can cause high energy bills as you try
to keep the inside of your home comfortable
in uncomfortable weather. You may want to
consider replacing these old windows with
energy efficient widows that are designed
to reduce heating and cooling costs. These
windows will cost between 5% to 10% more
to purchase than regular single pane windows,
but you can expect to save as much as 30%
on your energy bill once they have been properly
installed.
If you are thinking of buying
energy efficient
windows, consider the following:
- The three most important factors to look
for when selecting energy efficient windows
are: air leakage, the amount of solar energy
that passes through the glass (the solar
heat gain coefficient), and how much heat
moves through the glass (the U factor). For
each of these, the lower the number, the
better the energy efficiency.
- All energy efficient windows have at least
two panes of glass; better ones have three.
This is referred to as double or triple glazing.
A nontoxic gas such as argon or krypton can
be installed between the panes of glass to
reduce the movement of heat in or out of
the window.
- A microscopically thin layer of a Low-E coating
can be applied to the glass to reduce the
amount of solar heat that passes through
the window.
- The material used to make the window framing
is also important. Vinyl and fiberglass do
not conduct as much heat and will leak less
than aluminum and wood.
You can often reduce your energy
bills even
further by closing your curtains
or shades
on hot days and keeping them
open on sunny,
cold days. Heavy curtain material
will help
reduce drafts. |
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