Replacement Window Ratings

Windows are rated in several categories that calculate their energy efficiency. If you are picking out windows for your house, more emphasis should be placed on various ratings based on where the home is located in. For example, if you are purchasing for replacement windows in Phoenix, Arizona, a sunny and warm environment, the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient is very likely the most significant rating to take into consideration. Other characteristics, such as the orientation of a window to the sun and the amount of shade that is present need to be taken into consideration.

The U.S. Government's Energy Star program is specially designed to make it convenient for consumers to identify energy efficient products and practices which will save them money and safeguard the environment. The Energy Star program incorporates over sixty products, including windows. Energy Star certification makes it very simple for individuals to ensure they are getting energy efficient replacement windows.

All Energy Star replacement windows are ranked in five different categories however Energy Star qualification is solely determined on the U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. These ratings are also the categories utilized to calculate if a window qualifies for the IRS Energy Tax Credit.

U-Factor
Measures the pace of heat transfer and signifies how effectively a window insulates. The smaller the U-Factor rating, the more efficiently a window insulates. The window U-Factor includes the thermal attributes of the frame in addition to the glazing.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
Determines the solar energy transmitted by the window and illustrates how efficiently a window inhibits heat caused by the sun's energy. The smaller the SHGC, the less solar heat a window transmits.

Visable Transmittance (VT)
Calculates the amount of light a window allows through. The greater the Visable Transmittance, the more light you see.

Air Leakage (AL)
Determines the speed at which air passes through joints in a window. Air Leakage is calculated in cubic feet of air that passes through 1 square foot of window area in a minute. The smaller the Air Leakage value, the less air that is permitted to leak.

Condensation Resistance
Measures how efficiently a window prevents water build-up. The greater the Condensation Resistance factor, the less condensation build-up a window permits.

Other Replacement Window Ratings
There are a few additional ratings which are not presented on the NFRC Energy Star label yet they are helpful and show up on some windows.

Light to Solar Gain
The ratio of Visable Transmittance to Solar Heat Gain Coefficient determines the amount of light transmitted without adding heat. A greater number indicates that more light is transmitted without adding heat.

R-Value
R-Value was introduced as a way to rate the insulation value of a product. It calculates conductivity and shows the resistance to heat flow. A high R-Value indicates a better insulated window. Virtually all windows today are measured using U-Factor (see above).

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