ENERGY EFFICIENCY BASICS
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that up to 30% of a building’s energy (for heating or cooling purposes) is lost through inefficient windows. That means that nearly one third of the money you are spending to heat or cool your home is money that should be put to better use. Energy-efficient windows can help reduce your utility bills and make your home more comfortable. Not to mention the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re helping the planet by minimizing environmental impact. Marvin offers a variety of window and door options that help you achieve long-term performance and energy cost savings, in any climate.
Q: I need new windows. What’s the first thing I need to know when it comes to windows and energy efficiency?
A: Replacing windows with energy-efficient ones can help reduce your utility bills, but the benefits go much further. Choosing energy-efficient windows makes your home more comfortable, as their performance determines how much heat comes in and escapes out through the windows.
Q: How do I know if a window or a door is energy efficient?
A: Certification programs such as those administered by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) and ENERGY STAR provide ratings designed to indicate a window or door’s efficiency. Various performance ratings — like U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient — measure a product’s effectiveness in insulating and blocking heat from the sun, among other things.
U-Factor
Simply put, U-factor measures how well a window keeps heat inside your home. It’s a measure of total heat flow through a window or door from room air to outside air. Lower numbers indicate greater insulating capabilities. It’s a particularly important measure for climates with colder winters.
Solar Heat Gain
If U-factor denotes how much heat leaves your home, the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) measures how much radiant heat enters your home. All you really need to remember is: The lower the number, the less heat a window lets in.
Q: How are Marvin Windows and Doors energy efficient?
A: Marvin windows and doors are designed using revolutionary “Low-E” glass, insulated frames, and other advanced materials designed to reduce energy loss. The “Low-E” glass helps regulate the temperature in your home by limiting the amount of UV and infrared rays that penetrate through the window. This allows for your heating and cooling systems to work at a steady pace, instead of constantly turning off and on which requires more energy. The insulated frames reduce the amount of energy that escapes your home, again regulating the temperature and limiting the work that your heating and cooling systems need to do.
Visible Transmittance (VT)
The amount of visible light transferred through a window. Low E coatings can reject solar heat gain without reducing visible light to pass through the glass. A high VT is desirable to maximize daylight.
Q: Are tax credits still available for energy-saving window and door replacement?
A: Homeowners can claim a federal tax credit for making certain improvements to their homes that are designed to boost energy efficiency. This is known as the Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit. See www.energystar.gov/about/federal_tax_credits and click how to apply for details.
ENERGY STAR
Q: What does it mean to be an ENERGY STAR-certified window or door?
A: To obtain ENERGY STAR certification, a window or door must meet a set of requirements that are determined by the U.S. government. Those requirements differ based on geography, meaning a window that’s being installed in Minnesota has different requirements than one in Florida. The certification is meant to indicate that the window is energy-efficient in the region where it will be used, and can help homeowners save on energy costs.
Q: Does my window need to be ENERGY STAR certified in order to be energy efficient?
A: No. While an ENERGY STAR label can be helpful in identifying energy-efficient windows, every home is unique. ENERGY STAR provides a one-size-fits-all guideline but does not take into consideration, for example, the orientation of the house or the number or size of windows and associated Solar Heat Gain. A window expert like your Marvin dealer can help determine which products will work best for you.
ENERGY STAR also recognizes products that meet high energy-efficiency guidelines. Marvin offers the industry’s widest selection of wood and clad wood products that meet these rigorous criteria. Link to Most Efficient product list.
GLASS & GLAZING
Q: Can you help me to better understand the numbers? What’s a good U-factor number? What’s a good SHGC?
A: Different homeowners seek out different levels of efficiency, but a “good” U-factor is <.30. A “good” Solar Heat Gain rating, meanwhile, on a scale from 0 to 1, is relative to climates in different regions. Low SHGC numbers are best for southern climates where there’s intense sun exposure, whereas higher SHGC values make the most sense for regions with cold winters.
Q: Can you explain Low E coatings?
A: The ability of a material to radiate energy (heat) is called its emissivity. Extremely thin coatings of special low emissivity (Low E) metallic material are applied to glass panes used in windows and doors to boost their energy efficiency. Low E coatings, usually applied to the inside layers of insulating glass, manage the amount of light and heat either conducted through a window or reflected away from it.
Insulating Glass (IG)
Two or more glass panes separate by an air space to reduce thermal transfer.
Low E
Low E stands for low emissivity. Microscopically thin, transparent metal or metallic oxide layers deposited on a glass surface suppress radiative heat flow and reflect interior infrared energy (heat) back to the inside, reducing heat loss through the glass. Various Low E coating options can manipulate heat gain to match different climate needs.
Gas Fills
Argon or krypton mixes slow the movement of warm and cool air in IG airspaces and improve thermal performance.
Tripane Glazing
Energy efficiency is achieved through the use of various window technologies. Low E coatings, frame materials, glazing types, spacers, gas fill, and weatherstripping all contribute to efficient windows.
HIGH PERFORMANCE
Q: What else do I need to know if I want to make my home super energy efficient?
A: It’s easier than ever before. Modern sustainable building methods, like Passive building, LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and Net Zero building can help you minimize environmental impact and maximize energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR also offers a “Most Efficient” list, a distinction that recognizes products that deliver superior efficiency through cutting-edge technologies and innovations. Marvin is an industry leader in offering a wide selection of products that meet these rigorous criteria.
Q: Is sustainable building the same as high performance building?
A: Sustainable building refers to both a structure and to processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition.
According to the National Institute of Building Sciences, high performance building integrates and optimizes all major high-performing building attributes, including energy efficiency, durability, life-cycle performance, and occupant productivity.
Q: Can I make my home a high performance building?
A: There are methods to optimize energy efficiency in a home environment, most easily with new construction. One way is to plan for a building to generate at least as much energy as it consumes. Net Zero homes and Zero Net Ready homes are carefully designed structures that currently or in the future make use of alternative energy solutions such as wind, solar and/or geothermal systems.
Passive building is another high performance construction concept. It achieves significant energy savings by creating a superinsulated building envelope that minimizes heat loss and prevents air leakage. Because the house is airtight, ventilation with high efficiency heat exchange continuously filters fresh air. Passive House Certification is available to help structures meet Passive House Institute U.S. building standards.
You don’t need to build a Net Zero or Passive home to dramatically improve energy performance in your home. Whether replacing windows in an existing home or designing a new construction, there are plenty of energy-saving windows to choose from.
Marvin has more than 14,000 certified window and door product/glass options that meet a .20 or lower U-factor for high performance. Talk to for help selecting windows and doors that best meet your energy efficiency goals.
