About Energy Efficient Windows

With the average home losing 25%-30% of its heat through the windows, installing energy efficient windows can help to lower your energy bills while also making your home a much more comfortable place to live.

Compare the different types of energy efficient window and find out how much your home could be saving each year on energy bills.

Types of energy efficient windows

The more efficient a window is, the more it will help to keep the heat in your home and save you money on your energy bills. To increase the efficiency of your windows, you should consider installing energy efficient windows such as low-e (low emissivity) windows.

Low emissivity windows

Low emissivity, or low-E windows, can be as much as 40% more efficient than conventional double-glazed windows. Suspended between the panes of glass is a metal coating on a plastic film, making them ‘spectrally selective’. This means that they allow short wave radiation from the sun into your home, but don’t allow long wave heat radiation to escape in the opposite direction.

From the inside, the metal coating is very hard to spot with the naked eye but from the outside they can appear slightly mirrored.

Double vs triple glazing

Double-glazing is the name given to the windows with 2 panes of glass, rather than only having a single pane, which acts as an additional layer of insulation. To further add to the insulation, the panes of glass are separated by a gas, commonly argon. Replacing single glazing with double glazing can benefit your home in many ways:

• An additional layer of insulation
• Increased security
• Helps to reduce damp
• Limits outdoor noise that can make its way into your home

Add a third pane of glass and you have triple glazing which is said to increase the benefits of double glazing further but does come at an additional cost.

In addition to double and triple glazing, you might want to consider secondary glazing. For homes with single-glazed windows, a secondary pane can be installed to the existing windows without the need for a full replacement.

Secondary glazing is typically less expensive than double glazing and while it’s similar to double glazing, in the sense that there are 2 panes of glass, they don’t tend to have the same level of energy efficiency.

You can further increase the insulation around your windows with heavy curtains or blinds.

Energy efficient windows: benefits & savings

Replacing single-glazed windows around a detached home with double glazing could lead to savings of up to $153.00 a year on your energy bills.

Most efficient window materials

It’s not only the glass that needs to be considered but the window frame too. The various materials available all have different qualities and could help to increase the efficiency of your home.

PVC window frames are an effective insulator, delivering your home with an extra layer of insulation, composite, wood and fiberglass frames all have these benefits too. This is in comparison to metal frames, such as aluminum, which is a poor thermal insulator. However, having a thermal break installed within aluminum frames will help to make them much more efficient.

Replacement windows

When it comes to replacing the windows around your home, it could be easy to get put off by the cost. However, energy efficient replacement windows will help to save you money in the long run.

You should consider replacement windows if any of the following apply to your existing windows:

• Installed 15-20 years ago
• Don’t have double glazing
• Locks aren’t working
• Glass has been smashed
• Not opening properly

Cost of energy efficient windows

Installed efficient replacement windows around your home will come at a higher price to less efficient windows but you could make back your initial investment through energy bill savings.