Your Home’s Windows
Posted on 28. Apr, 2010 by Anna in Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficient Homes, General Articles
One of the best ways to add aesthetic value to your home is by installing windows. As a matter of fact, whether your home is being viewed from the inside or the outside, windows can be the main asset of your home’s overall architecture. But in addition to providing aesthetic value, windows also have other functions such as providing scenery, allowing for ventilation, letting in the daylight, and taking advantage of the natural heat from solar rays during the winter. However, windows can also cause loss of heat or coolness, at a cost of as much as 25% of your electric bill, especially during the summer. During the warmer time of year, the air conditioner must work hard to cool your window-filled room. This is why it’s recommended that the windows you install have passed the standards of Energy Star and bear its logo. You should also put up curtains for your windows to further lower your electric bill during the summer.
Most homes in the United States have single-pane windows. If your home has this type of windows, you may want to consider replacing them with double-pane windows. Usually double-pane windows are made from high quality glass. If you’re living in a location where a cold climate is dominant, you may be interested in windows with low emissivity and gas-filled glazing. These can help you lower your heating bill as they help stop warm air escaping from your home. On the other hand, if you’re situated in a sunny area and the climate is usually warm, you could get windows that have a spectral selective coating. This helps prevent heat from entering your home and makes your cooling system more efficient.
Lucky are those building a new home for themselves. They are able to choose at the start to get the type of windows that can allow them to save on their utility bills, be it winter or summer. These new home owners have the opportunity to buy and install smaller cooling or heating units, because their choice in windows can make these systems up to twice as effective. But of course, home owners who don’t want the expense of replacing windows still have the opportunity to save on their utility bills. They just have to know the right measures to take to improve the performance of their cooling or heating equipment at home.
