Investment propertyA Window to the World of Energy Efficient Windows
Just how important are the windows on that new home you are considering?
It"s easy to notice the attributes of a newly built home that scream out at
you, like the floor plan, attractive amenities, and bathroom and bedroom
count. But who looks at the windows or even asks the sale consultant about
them when touring a model complex and narrowing down their selection for just
the right home? This should be a key consideration for your future comfort
and speaks to the potential re-sale value of your home someday, not to
mention your own pocket book.
Window shopping is more complicated than it used to be. In fact, you"ll find
dozens of types around. There are windows with metal, wood, vinyl,
fiberglass, and composite frames. They can come with single-pane,
double-pane, or triple pane glass, and feature gas fills, tints, and special
coatings. Each type of window allows heat, light, and air to pass through in
varying amounts, which affects how comfortable your house is in both winter
and summer. This, of course, can affect your utility costs as well. To make
sure you are buying a new home with the appropriate type of windows, you have
to match your needs with the different features available. This can include
the ability to keep heat in the winter, block out the sun"s heat in the
summer, prevent fading of fabrics, furniture and cabinets, or provide an
ample amount of natural light without glare.
First, check out what direction your windows will face; in other words, let
the sun be your guide. South-facing windows get the most direct sunlight
overall, but this "solar gain" differs in summer and winter. The dramatic
differences in exposure and heat gain can mean that the right window on one
side of your house may not be appropriate for the other. Compensating
factors for this may be the size of the windows, trees, shading devices,
overhangs and other buildings blocking sunlight.
The many new window technologies on the market are important scientific
advancements, but the terminology and ratings can be confusing to understand.
The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) has developed a rating system and energy information labels to help consumers better analyze their choices.
These NFRC ratings are always available for the whole window, including the
frame.
The new "low -e" (low emittance) coatings are an incredible phenomenon in
window technology and energy efficiency. Windows with these applications are
like outfitting your new home with a pair of sunglasses year round. It is a
clear, microscopic layer of metal oxide installed on one of the glass
surfaces of a window to reflect radiant heat. The most common low-e windows
are designed for winter comfort, as they let in light and heat from the sun,
but reflect long-wavelength radiation (heat energy from the home and its
occupants) back into the house. Manufacturers are now offering low-e windows
specifically for hot climates as well. These reflect solar heat back
outside. Some may be slightly tinted, but most have done away with the
obviously blue and green coating you may have seen.
Window frames are a close second in importance to the window itself, as they
can account for about 15% of the energy loss through a window. Many new
production homes now feature vinyl or fiberglass framed windows (wood framed
are the most costly) instead of the old aluminum frames, which are known to
be less insulating unless they contain a strip of urethane through the metal.
California leads the way in requirements and implementation of energy
efficient windows and products, with standards already in place that
practically guarantee an energy efficient house when newly constructed.
Their "Title 24" code specifies a formula used in new homes that is upgraded
on a regular basis to ensure a continuum of improvement in energy efficiency.
They have developed elaborate rebate programs for builders, free shade tree
programs for buyers, and even "energy efficient mortgages" for lenders to be
able to offer higher loan amounts to buyers of homes that save on buyer"s
utility bills.
Next time you tour a model home park, check out the brochure features list
and ask the sales person about the new homes" energy efficiency and the types
of windows being used. It would be difficult to glean an "average" energy
bill amount from him, since everyone"s lifestyle varies so much from
household to household. But you can study the efficiency of the window
package the new home includes, and decide for yourself if that builder has
gone the extra mile and made sure you have the latest in energy efficient
window technology.
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