Never underestimate the importance of windows because they matter. Windows provide our homes with light, warmth, and ventilation. For any style, function and budget, find the perfect window that works for you. Here are 10 things you should know about windows.
1. Leaky and inefficient windows, skylights, and glazed doors account for more than 25 percent of the average household’s energy bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. You can cut energy costs by as much as 15 percent by buying windows with double-pane insulated glass, heat-resistant coatings, airtight frames, and/or Energy Star ratings.
2. Cut noise with insulated or double-pane windows featuring 1/4 inch to 1 inch of air (or argon) between the panes. Wider air spaces and thicker glass reduce noise more.
3. Useful Life: Most manufacturers say windows should be replaced after about 20 years. Signs of a failing window include being sealed or painted shut, draftiness, and panes that collect condensation, ice, and frost.
4. Skylights provide 30 percent more light than vertical windows of the same size.
5. Low-emissivity (low-E) glass has a thin metallic coating that reflects heat back to its source, keeping heat inside the house in the winter and out of it in the summer. Low-E coatings also reduce energy costs and block UV rays while allowing 95 percent of natural light to pass through
6. Instead of creating privacy with window treatments, consider special glass treatments. Frosted and bubbled glass and glass block all capture light while limiting visibility. They are especially useful for ground-level bathrooms.
7. Suspended Particle Device technology, for both new and existing windows, lets homeowners use a dimmer switch to tint glass panes to regulate the light coming in.
8. Home Energy magazine reports that light-color shades reduce a window’s solar heat gain by as much as 43 percent, while awnings reduce it by as much as 77 percent.
9. A window’s R-value measures its resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more efficient the window. A U-factor is the rate of heat transfer from inside to outside of your home. The lower the number, the more efficient the window. Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) measures how much heat your home gains from the sun. The lower the SHGC, the less heat is gained.
10. Windows make up approximately 15 percent of an average home’s wall space, according to Andersen Windows, Inc.
If you’re building, remodeling or need replacement windows, Omni has the expertise to help determine what type of window will work best for you and your home. Stop by our showroom, visit www.omnigp.com or give our team a call at (920) 233-3333.
*These facts were part of an article from Better Homes and Gardens.
