Real quick… Here are seven reasons to install energy efficient windows:

• save energy
• Save money by using less heating or cooling
• Add to the appearance of the house
• Protect interior furnishings in a home from fading
• High impact resistance
• Make outside noise less audible
• Insulate your home better, keeping it warm in winter and cool in summer

With reasons like these, it’s no wonder energy efficient windows are all the rage. If your windows need to be repaired or even replaced, consider installing energy efficient windows.

How exactly do I choose energy efficient windows?

When choosing energy efficient windows, you want to look for windows that are Energy Star certified.

Energy Star was developed by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. The purpose of the government program is to help individuals and organizations protect the environment through energy efficiency. The standard does not only apply to windows, but also to other products.

For the purposes of this article, we’ll take a look at windows that are Energy Star certified. What makes Windows Energy Star certified? Any Energy Star product, including windows, must meet the following criteria:

• Have an NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) label. The NFRC tests the quality of the insulation of the entire window.
• Be 40% more efficient than the product typically requires under most building codes.
• Reduce energy bills by up to 15%.

However, customers cannot simply rely on the Energy Star label to choose a good energy efficient window. An important consideration for consumers is selecting windows that are appropriate for the area of ​​the country in which they live. Energy Star labels windows in three ways:

• “N” for northern climates
• “S” for southern climates
• “C” for central climates

All three types of windows are designed to address heating or cooling concerns in each climate: North Central Heating Primarily, South Central Cooling Primarily, and North Central and South Central Heating and Cooling.

How Energy Efficient Windows Make Your Home Better In addition to saving energy, energy efficient windows are particularly great in states where it can be very cold. These windows work to make homes warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, which becomes particularly evident in states with very cold winters and states with extremely hot summers. With these windows insulating well, homeowners spend less on heating and cooling bills. Energy efficient windows also enhance a home due to their attractive appearance, although not all energy efficient windows are created equal. Homeowners have options regarding the main parts of the window, such as the frame, panels, and spacers.

window parts

• The frame

Look for windows that have fiberglass, wood composites, or vinyl because these materials are better for insulating. One downside to using wood material for framing is that wood can be difficult to maintain and often needs painting after a few years. Therefore, if you choose to frame your windows with wood material, it is recommended that you get vinyl or aluminum siding to cover the wood frame.

• window panes

If you’re wondering if multiple window panes are better than just one, remember the phrase ‘Two is better than one’ or ‘The more the merrier’. Two glass panels with a space between them filled with air, krypton, or argon insulate better than a single glass panel. Certain Energy Star windows have windows with three or more panes of glass, which do the best job of insulating and have the highest impact resistance, as well as better energy efficiency. Another benefit of multiple panes is that they keep out outside noise better than a single pane of glass.

• Low-E glass coating

Low-E coating is a special coating on the window that is great to have. It reflects infrared light to keep you warm outside in summer and inside in winter. It also reflects ultraviolet light to protect a home’s interior furnishings from fading.

• warm edge spacers

Warm edge spacers are great for reducing heat flow and preventing condensation. Made of foam, steel, fiberglass or vinyl, they keep the glass panes of a window the proper distance apart.

There are many brands of energy efficient windows to choose from. Manufacturers include those like Accent Windows, Andersen, Cascade Windows, CertainTeed, Gorell, Marvin, Winstrom, and many more. Home improvement companies select which manufacturer brand they would like to make available to their customers. For example, Highland Windows, a Hartford-based Connecticut home improvement company (http://www.allaroundthehome.com/ct/hartford/) is licensed to install Alside, another manufacturer of energy-efficient windows, which it has won the Energy Star Window of the Year Award three times.