Are your windows a pain in the glass?

Have you ever wondered how much heat/cold your windows transmit? If you have single pane windows now, according to PG&E figures, you are losing about 25% of your heating or cooling energy to the outdoors right through them! Changing them to high efficiency windows can vastly reduce this loss, but is that all they will do for you?

>Jason: Besides energy savings, dual-pane windows drastically reduce noise pollution from the outside because of the extra thickness. This is especially useful in street-facing windows. Dual-pane windows also provide added security. Generally, a high efficiency window will have 2 or even 3 panes of glass, each about 50% thicker than conventional windows. This thickness will make it harder for thieves to break.

Okay, extra benefits aside, lets get down to business on why high-efficiency windows may be a good buy for your home. Ultraviolet (UV) light radiates from the sun all day long. That light comes through glass and creates heat in your home. There are several ways to slow down this UV light, but nothing can stop it completely. Ken will tell you about gas-filled windows, Low E coating and vinyl vs. aluminum frames. Ultimately though a window is rated with something called the U factor, and that is what yoiu will want to look at when considering what window to buy. The following link will provide you with information on what the U factor is exactly: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

>Ken: Thanks, Jason. What material should you get for the frame of the window? Aluminum, although used in the cheapest dual pane windows, is also the least efficient. There is a reason that aluminum is occasionally used in cookware... it transmits heat! The better material to use is vinyl. It is highly efficient, and extremely durable. It is easy to find vinyl windows with lifetime warranties included. The most efficient material is wood. Unfortunately, wood requires maintenance. You must keep them painted, or they will weather and crack. You will rarely find wood framed widows with more than a 25 year warranty.

U factors are used to describe the efficiency of your windows in keeping the heat in or out of your home. The lower the number, the less heat is transmitted, so compare and get the lowest you can afford. Low E coatings are used for decreasing the amount of UV light transmission occurs. The less UV is transmitted, the more comfortable the home and your furniture will not fade with sunlight beating down on it. The downside to Low E is that it will also decrease the amount of light entering the home, its like you put tinting on the windows. Balance the importance of light transmission and decreasing the heat transferred by sunlight carefully in making your decision about which windows to purchase. Be sure the spacer between the panes of glass are butyl, using aluminum spacers can defeat some of the purpose of the dual panes (cook-ware, remember?). The gas between the panes is important as well. It needs to be a heavy, noble gas like Argon or Krypton (sorry superman!). A heavy gas will slow transmission of heat, while just using air is not as efficient. The amount of space between the panes should be around 1/2 to 5/8 inch. Less than that and the heat will transfer too easily, more than that and currents can form and also begin transferring heat.

Finally, be careful to get a reputable contractor to install them. I had the unfortunate experience of a homeowner telling me about the contractor they chose. They started the day at 8am, and removed all the windows and sliding glass doors in the home. Then they began installing the new dual pane windows. At 5pm, being quitting time, they packed up and left- intending to return the next day . Unfortunately, they left half of the window openings with no glass in them overnight! They should replace the windows as the remove them. Always hire licensed reputable contractors when doing any major work on your home, and remember to be energy smart!