When it’s time to invest in replacement windows for your home, it’s important that you take into account their energy performance ratings. These play a key role in the energy efficiency of your new hardware.
Thankfully, the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) has made it easy for homeowners to determine if their new windows are as energy-efficient as possible. In this post, Renewal By Andersen® of Northwest Ohio shares what energy ratings you need to keep in mind.
U-Factor
This is the orange-colored box on the label and measures how well the window keeps heat from escaping your home. The lower the U-Factor, the better the window is at keeping heat indoors. The average range for U-Factor usually falls between 0.20 and 1.20. Regardless, you should look for low numbers if you want windows with better insulation.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
You’ll find these measurements in a purple box in the label, and they tell you how much the window can resist unwanted heat gain and general ultraviolet (UV) tolerance. This is a vital trait all modern windows should have – especially during summer when the heat can damage the windows.
Like U-Factor, you want low numbers for Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. You’ll most likely see decimals on the measurement. Just pick the lower ones so you can get better heat tolerance for your new windows.
Visible Transmittance (VT)
The measurements in the green box tell you how well the windows are effective at naturally lighting up your home – an important money-saving measurement. VT can influence how effective the hardware is at daylighting. You’ll want higher numbers for this, and the average range is between 0 and 1.
Air Leakage
The ratings in the dark blue box measure how much air naturally enters through the windows when closed. You want to look for low numbers as air leakage can have a negative impact on the energy efficiency of your home. A window with a 0.1 air leakage rating is very weathertight and can resist high winds, too.
As your local window replacement experts, Renewal By Andersen of Northwest Ohio offers high-quality windows with the best energy performance ratings. Give us a call at (419) 931-6087 for a free estimate on our services. We offer expert window replacement in Findlay, OH.
