While doing online research about replacement windows and patio doors on the market on Long Island, you have probably seen reference to ENERGY STAR® recommendations or certification. You may already know that this labeling means certain windows should be good for your energy bills, but many people may not know how the United States Environmental Protection Agency decides if a home improvement product or appliance deserves their approval.
Renewal by Andersen is once again proud to be an Energy Star Partner of the Year for Sustained Excellence in 2019. Andersen has been an ENERGY STAR® partner since the Windows program began in 1998 and was the first window manufacturer awarded the ENERGY STAR National Window Partner of the Year in 1999. The Sustained Excellence Award is the highest honor given by ENERGY STAR for continued leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements.
Here are three things you may not know about ENERGY STAR® certification.
Guiding principals and program standards covering replacement window performance (actually, all home windows and doors) come directly from the EPA. The agency monitors market conditions and as municipalities, states and federal expectations change, the agency updates performance specification. For example, when new technology comes on the market that significantly enhances performance, the EPA may create a new benchmark for the minimum standard.
The program is administered in a way to provide consistent metrics for consumers across all US markets, adjusted for climate and other factors.
Whether the ROI is achieved through an increase in property value or through heating and air conditioning bill savings, an Energy Star certified replacement window has been shown to perform well enough to allow homeowners to recover all, or a large portion of the money they spend upgrading their home. The phrase “a reasonable period of time” could refer to a few years or more than a decade, depending on your geographical location and the overall condition of your home. When a dealer tells a consumer to expect the replacement windows to pay for themselves in a year, that is an unreasonable expectation by any standard.
We explained the various window performance metrics here and you can visit the National Fenestration Ratings Council web page to learn more.
The EPA looks at a variety of factors that individually may impact performance, and how a combination of these factors come together to impact performance. Energy Star certification is based on the performance of low-E glass types, configurations, manufacturing techniques, window frame materials, spacer placement and material (performance tier) and the insulating gas sealed between the panes.
When the EPA assigns performance metrics to a particular window it is generally a double-hung window. The EPA plans to add a “component cost” category with the 2019 Energy Star update that considers cost based on a 3 X 5 double-hung window.
The EPA periodically reviews their performance guidelines and principles to ensure that the labels are comparing apples to apples, and consumers can get a pretty accurate view of how different window brands measure up to each other by reviewing the numbers in each category. All the jargon: U-factor, visible light transfer, and condensation resistance may seem like Greek to some of you, but it’s pretty simple if you take the time to compare.
We are proud to display our Energy Star ratings. And, if you need some help interpreting the labels, we can help. If you have any questions about how the Renewal by Andersen of Long Island brand measures up to others in our area, reach out to a representative. Fill in the short form on this page or dial (866) 609-5033 for faster service.
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