Window technology has improved a lot throughout the years. From simply being something to protect you from the elements outside, it can now improve your comfort inside your home. Because of the improvements, ratings were created for window companies to follow. Some of these ratings are the U-Value and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC).
The window’s U-Value, sometimes called U-Factor, measures the rate of non-solar heat transfer into your home. This deals with the insulation of your home against hot air. The ratings that you can see are numbers between 0.20 and 1.20. When choosing windows, go for the ones with lower U-Value rating. These windows are better at keeping the warmth inside your home in cold climates or at night.
SHGC measures the rate of solar heat transferred into your home. The solar heat in this case comes directly from the sunlight that passes through the glass of your windows, unlike U-Value. The SHGC rating is measured between 0 and 1. Window contractors highly recommend choosing windows with lower SHGC rating, especially if the window is placed in an area with direct sunlight.
When window shopping, you must take into consideration your area’s climate and your personal preferences. In San Francisco, windows with a U-Value of 0.25 or less is a good choice. This makes heating bills become lower since there is enough heating and insulation in your home. For the SHGC rating, windows with 0.25 or less can help lower your AC costs. You can get higher SHGC ratings between 0.35 to 0.60 if you want your home to be a bit warmer.
As a leading window contractor in the area, Renewal by Andersen® of San Francisco offers ENERGY STAR®-certified replacement windows that provide remarkable energy efficiency. Talk to one of our design consultants today to discuss your window replacement needs. Call us now at (866) 609-5033, or fill out our contact form for a free consultation. We serve clients in and around San Francisco.
