It’s true. Replacing the aging, rapidly deteriorating windows in your Long Island home with high-performance, custom-built windows and patio doors can help you save money on home heating and cooling expenses. But, understanding the nuanced relationship between replacement window design and overall home energy efficiency is important.
Window performance impacts the comfort of your dwelling, your health and your safety. The overall health and structural integrity of your home also significantly effects energy-efficiency and comfort control.
Here’s what you need to know to get the highest return on your investment.
Superior Performance Depends on Whole-Window Design
Every component in a window unit impacts performance and efficiency. Simply choosing “the best” glass option or framing material won’t get the highest return on your investment.
Gas fill between panes improves conduction control, but doesn’t prevent leaking through faulty weather-stripping and sealants. New window framing materials, like our patented Fibrex composite, reduce heat conduction, but don’t control heat lost through the glass.
To eliminate cold drafts in the winter and solar heat gain in the summer, you have to carefully choose every component based on your lot orientation, surrounding landscape and ventilation requirements.
Improving Overall Home Energy Efficiency
Experts agree that 50- to 70-percent of your utility bill comes from energy used for heating and cooling. Getting the highest return on your replacement window investment doesn’t stop with choosing the best window style for every room and carefully balancing the number of fixed windows with the number of operable windows that enable controlled ventilation.
Your home’s structural integrity directly affects utility bills. Air leaks, heating and air conditioning system performance and insulation are three major problem areas for Long Island homeowners.
Air Leaks
Eliminating air leaks is crucial for gaining maximum control over your indoor temperature and energy efficiency. On older windows, adding weather-stripping or caulking leaks can improve overall energy efficiency.
Here are 10 places to look for air leaks around your home.
HVAC Systems
Poorly maintained heating and air conditioning systems increase utility bills and don’t control humidity effectively. You’ll never be able to drastically reduce utility bills unless you have an energy-efficient cooling and heating system. Your new replacement windows will improve your comfort and reduce expenses, but maximum return on your investment requires a whole-house approach just like window design includes all components and not just the glass.
Insulation
Heat flows from warmer areas to cooler areas naturally. In the winter, heated air gravitates toward cooler indoor spaces like unheated attics, basements and attached garages – or even, outdoor spaces. In summer, hot, humid air moves toward your home’s interior spaces.
Maintaining a comfortable indoor environment requires insulation that inhibits the flow of heat. Properly insulated homes reduce the flow of heat through ceilings, floors and walls.
There are numerous types of insulation on the market today – some are easy to install yourself with just common tools found around most homes and a few hours on the weekend. Other types, like blown in insulation, require special equipment and training so, it’s best to hire a professional contractor. Energy.gov recommends you consider all types of insulation based on your home, including radiant barriers that re-emit heat rather than absorb it.
As you can see, there is more to designing and installing home improvement products than just choosing window styles that look beautiful and perform perfectly for decades. Our window consultants are available to help you consider options for your home that improve comfort and safety while reducing your utility bills and maximizing the return on your investment.
To schedule a free, no-obligation home consultation just fill in the short form on this page or give us a call at (866) 609-5033.
Check out this post for more information on replacement window energy efficiency.
Learn Everything You Need to Know BEFORE Buying Replacement Windows