Many property owners believe windows are a mere design element crucial to the completion of a building. In the real sense, windows are highly vital in maintaining your home’s energy efficiency and improving your entire property value. When it comes to choosing the right window for your building, not all windows are created equal, as some are solely for aesthetics while others are energy efficient because of their high window rating. This article explores window rating and how property owners can enforce calculated decisions when it comes to picking energy-efficient windows.
What Are Window Ratings?
Window ratings are a system of rating the energy efficiency of a window, indicating its ability to prevent heat loss and leakage. It’s a performance-based insight that allows property owners to make a good decision when purchasing windows for their buildings as opposed to relying on the installer’s conviction.
It is quite difficult to discern an energy-efficient window by merely looking or searching on the internet. Windows manufacturers, in conjunction with government bodies, have simplified this process by developing an energy-efficiency rank or scale. The scale runs from A++ (high energy efficiency) to E (least energy efficient).
How Are Window Energy Ratings Measured?
All of a window, including its frame, is assessed by professionals before its efficiency is rated. Energy performance ratings are performed based on different criteria:
U-Factor
This criterion measures the rate of heat transfer through a window. U-factor (expressed as watts per square meter Kelvin (W/m²K)) is an integral measurement of insulation in a building and measures the amount of heat (W) through a window for every temperature difference (degree Kelvin) between the distance of warm and cold area (m²). The lower the values, the higher the insulation.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) measures the amount of solar or UV radiation that passes through the window, which is essentially helpful during hot summer. The lower the SHGC ratings, the lower your reliance on cooling systems. However, a high SHGC rating allows solar radiation through, which can be helpful during cold winters.
Other Window Energy Ratings (WER) metrics include the Center of Glass Rating, which measures the properties of the window glass, and Visible Transmittance (VT), which measures the fraction of visible light through a window.
Replacement Window Suppliers at Atlantic Window Warehouse
Property owners in search of an efficient home replacement service provider should look no further, as Atlantic Window Warehouse stands out for many reasons. We offer unparalleled quality windows that offer the most efficiency, allowing property owners to save more on energy bills. We’ve earned the trust of the nation’s top window manufacturers, allowing us to provide a wide variety of options to property owners across Massachusetts. If your home’s windows aren’t performing at their best, contact our team to swap them for better ones!