These Window Features Can Help Reduce Your Energy Costs
If you’re planning to replace the windows on your home, one of your top concerns is likely energy efficiency. And for good reason—the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 25%-30% of residential heating and cooling energy usage results from heat transfer through windows. With those statistics in mind, it’s important to select energy-efficient windows that will ease the strain on your HVAC system, reduce draftiness, and possibly even lead to lower monthly bills.
Energy ratings will vary from one brand and model of window to another, so be sure to check the specifications for the windows you’re planning to have installed, but here are some general tips on window features that can help reduce your energy costs. Look for:
Insulating Glass
When you picture a replacement window, you probably imagine there being only one pane of glass. With insulating glass, however, there are two panes of glass spaced a certain distance apart with either a vacuum or a gas fill in between. For this reason, insulating glass is sometimes referred to as “double-pane glass” or “double-glazed glass.”
Gas Fills
As mentioned in the previous section, insulating glass often contains a gas fill in between the panes. This is typically an inert or noble gas like argon or krypton. Because these gases are denser than air, they’re better at preventing heat transfer.
Pane Spacers
When dealing with insulating glass, it’s important to have spacers between the two panes of glass. These spacers help to hold the panes in place, thus contributing to the structural integrity of the window, and they also help to protect the seal that keeps gas fills from leaking out.
Low-E Coatings
Low-E (short for “low-emissivity”) coatings reflect infrared rays, which are felt as heat, but allow visible light to pass through. These coatings boost energy efficiency, as they prevent heat from entering the home during the summer and escaping the home during the winter.
Energy-Efficient Windows in Tampa, Orlando & Fort Myers
If you own a home in Tampa, Orlando, Fort Myers, or a surrounding area, you’re in luck—you can turn to Morgan Exteriors to handle your window replacement project. Since our founding in 1995, we’ve made it our goal to help our customers modernize their homes with energy-efficient products, and that’s exactly why we’ve chosen to install vinyl replacement windows from Norandex and hurricane windows from Simonton and PGT. Our standard vinyl windows come with energy-saving features like:
- ¾-inch insulating glass
- Specialized Low-E coatings
- Glass pane spacers
- Argon gas fills (optional)
Although the hurricane windows we carry are primarily designed with durability in mind, they’re also incredibly energy efficient. Simonton hurricane windows prevent up to 99% of UV rays from entering the home, and homeowners can opt to outfit PGT hurricane windows with Low-E coatings and glass tints.
Contact Morgan Exteriors today to learn more and to set up a complimentary in-home consultation. We look forward to helping you select the best energy-efficient windows for your needs.
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