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Joe
Marino is a window specialist who is very technical by nature.
When you combine decades of window experience with his attention
to detail, you get a person that can offer great insights into
what actually makes a window energy efficient. We have called
upon Joe to help with our window sections on Low E glass, super
spacers, window ratings, and more.
Energy
efficient vinyl windows break down into basic components.
All
windows consist of a frame, glass insulating system, seal system,
and components like cam locks, rollers, etc. For a window to be
efficient, it is crucial to pay particular attention to the quality
of the glass. Low E2 (squared) glass is very helpful to keep your
home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Vinyl frames
add insulating value to the frame surrounding the glass further
increasing the windows performance. Seals, both between the panes
of the glass and the actual weatherstripping round out the performance
package. To be an efficient window attention must be paid to each
detail. Component parts are also an indicator of the manufacturer's
attention to detail. Details like stainless rollers, high quality
locks,durable screen systems, covered weep holes, and quality weatherstripping
are but a few things to look for.
The
glass or glazing system is very important. There are three fundamental
approaches to improving the energy performance of glass systems
(two or more of these approaches may be combined). The first approach
is to alter the glazing material itself by changing its chemical
composition or physical characteristics. An example of this is tinted
glazing. The second approach is to apply a coating to the glazing
material surface. Reflective coatings and films were developed to
reduce heat gain and glare,and more recently, low-emittance
coatings have been developed to improve both heating and cooling
season performance. Low E glass has provided amazing improvements
in energy efficiency. Cardinal Glass is a major supplier
of very high performance Low E2 glass that has very high
energy performance without the look of a tinted window. The third
approach is to assemble various layers of glazing and control the
properties of the spaces between the layers. These strategies include
the use of two or more panes or films, low-conductance gas fills
between the layers, and thermally improved edge spacers. Our best
windows employ a combination of these techniques. High performance
double panes tend to be our most popular product today with triple
panes a small percentage. But as energy prices continue to rise,
the triple pane systems will begin to look more and more attractive.
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The
window frame can be 25% of the total opening area, and it is therefore
very important that it be a good insulator. Aluminum is totally
unacceptable as it transfers 1416 btu's of heat per hour as opposed
to vinyl at 1.3 btu's/hr
The
spacer and sealing system is an important element of good energy
efficient window design. The material the spacer is made from affects
the rate that heat travels through a window's edge. Aluminum in
the spacer system provides a heat conduit leading to energy loss
and condensation around the perimeter of the glass. Some window
makers now offer warm edge spacers as standard fare on their premium
lines. The best windows use less conductive materials such as foam
and rubber. Some companies employ a double sealing technique whereby
the foam seal is used to provide the highest insulating value and
then a secondary rubber or polymer sealant is applied over that
to prevent gas escaping and seals from breaking. Warm edge spacers
can improve the U-value of a window by 10% and boost the edge temperature,
thereby reducing condensation.
The
U.S. Department of Energy recently announced: "Superwindows"
now coming on the market can attain high thermal resistance by combining
multiple low-e coatings; low-conductance gas fills; barriers between
panes, which reduce convective circulation of the gas fill; and
insulating frames and edge spacers. Also, optical properties
such as solar transmittance can be customized for specific climate
zones. The heat from even a small amount of diffuse winter sunlight
will convert these super-windows into net suppliers of energy...
We
offer several choices of modern "Superwindows". Every
one has separate needs, so there really is not one window for everyone.
When you call us out for a free estimate, one of our window specialists
will sit down with you and explain your options to find a system
that works best for your needs.
