A quality window replacement in Cincinnati is a long-term investment that can help add to your home’s value. When buying new windows for your home, there are many things to consider, including aesthetics, ventilation, protection from hot and cold weather, and overall function. With recent innovations in the window industry, there is now a wide array of window options that come with various features for homeowners to choose from. Nowadays, homeowners opt for energy-efficient windows that help them save on energy bills. Seeking out replacement windows built by Energy Star Partners of the Year can be a good way to start.
What is ENERGY STAR?
ENERGY STAR is a voluntary program by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that measures the energy efficiency of products like windows, doors, and skylights. Every product that passes its quality tests will be given a certification and allowed to display the ENERGY STAR label.
Why are ENERGY STAR–certified windows better than regular ones?
Aesthetics. ENERGY STAR–certified windows come in several designs that are available at different price points, making energy-efficient windows more accessible to homeowners. This goes to show that you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics for better function. You can get both in one window!
Energy efficiency. You can rest assured that a window with the ENERGY STAR label is energy-efficient. Using these windows, homeowners nationwide can save about an average of 12% on energy bills each year. The materials of an energy-efficient window helps your home become cooler during summer and warmer during winter.
What makes an energy-efficient window?
An energy-efficient window is made of high-quality materials to produce the best results. Let’s look at the basics:
Frames. An energy-efficient window is made up of durable and low-maintenance framing materials that improve insulation. The most energy efficient window frame option in Cincinnati is a wood composite window. Less efficient, but still common, framing materials include fiberglass, vinyl, aluminum, and wood. Our windows come with our exclusive composite framing material Fibrex®, which combines the strength of wood with the maintenance ease of vinyl. It insulates 700 times better than aluminum.
Glass. Energy-efficient windows are made up of multiple panes of glass for better impact resistance and increased sound insulation. Some window manufacturers with low grade frames will use three panes in each window to meet energy efficiency standards.
Low-E glass coatings reflect harmful UV rays, which protects walls and furniture from fading. Our windows come with High-Performance™ Low-E4® glass, which is 45% more energy-efficient during winter and 56% more efficient during summer compared with regular dual-pane glass. It also blocks 83% of damaging UV rays.
Gas fills. Some windows have gas like krypton or argon added in between the panes for better insulation. We use a blend of argon and nitrogen, to blend small molecules with large molecules. This provides better thermal insulation and superior sound reduction.
If you are in need of replacement windows in Cincinnati, opt for ones that can help you save on energy bills and add comfort to your home at the same time. For energy-efficient replacement windows, call us at Renewal by Andersen® of Cincinnati today.
