Installing energy-efficient windows reduces the amount of heat that is allowed to enter the house in the warmer months and leave the house in the colder months. In addition to reducing the cost of heating and cooling the home, increased energy efficiency helps the environment by reducing the number of plants needed to produce power. Three things that can make a window more energy efficient are multiple panes, low-e treatment and vinyl-clad or fiberglass framing.
Three Elements of Energy Efficient Windows
Glass is highly heat conductive. Multiple panes, more commonly known as double or triple glazing, reduce heat transfer substantially. Air, krypton and argon are all used as fillers between panes to improve insulation even further. Multiple-pane windows are not only energy efficient, but they also reduce noise.
Low emissivity, or low-e, glass is glass treated to reflect ultra-violet light. This has two beneficial effects. First, it helps regulate temperature by allowing light, but not heat, to pass through the glass. Second, it reduces bleaching and discoloration caused by sunlight.
Fiberglass or vinyl-clad frames, unlike metal ones, reduce the transfer of heat, which decreases the amount of heat lost in the winter and transferred inside during the summer. Non-conductive spacers are another addition that reduces heat transfer.
The Burlington Door Centre has been selling and installing quality doors and windows for over 25 years. For more information on the products and services available, call (905) 333-4044 or send an email to info@thedoorcentre.ca.
