Understanding Energy-Efficient Solutions

Understanding Window Components

Energy-efficient windows consist of three vital parts: glazing or glass, edge spacers, and frames. Each component plays a crucial role in your home’s overall comfort and energy conservation.

Glazing or Glass

• Single-paned windows provide little insulation, while two or three panes offer improved energy efficiency.
• Low-E glass uses a colorless, invisible coating to reflect heat, making double-paned windows as effective as triple-paned ones.
• Heat Mirror™ technology suspends a thin, clear, polyester film with low-E coating between two panes of glass for even greater energy efficiency.
• Some windows have krypton or argon gas between the panes, which reduces heat transfer more effectively than air.

Edge Spacers

• Older windows used aluminum edge spacers that conduct heat rapidly. Modern windows use materials like structural foam, slowing down heat transfer and boosting energy efficiency.

Frames

• Metal frames conduct heat quickly, but those with thermal breaks (plastic inserts separating the inside metal from the outside) conserve energy.
• Wood frames conduct heat slowly, but they require more maintenance. Some wood windows are available with metal cladding to reduce the need for painting.
• Vinyl frames provide efficiency comparable to wood and require less upkeep.