The rising costs of energy are forcing more and more UK residents to opt for energy saving windows. The rise in oil prices, drought conditions, inflation and higher energy demands are making life miserable for the average UK resident. It is therefore important for them to find out how best to save energy. Energy saving windows is an option that is certainly worth considering.
Small windows –reduce energy wastage
As a matter of fact, energy saving windows has features in them that will help in reducing energy wastage and this in turn will translate into better energy conservation. The features that you will find in energy saving windows include gas filling, tinted glasses, Low-e, edge spacers and multiple glazing. Each of these features help in conserving energy and most energy saving windows will have these features displayed on the window which you plan on purchasing.
Energy saved stickers
There will be a sticker on the energy saving windows that displays the amount of energy that can be saved. These stickers have three separate sections with one section displaying the name of the manufacturer and it also displays the material from which the window has been made as well as the product type. In the second section you will find that energy ratings of the window and this are sub-divided into U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. A low U-factor means better conservation of energy. The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient shows the amount of heat from the sun that can pass through the window.
Performance of window
A third section will display information regarding the performance of the window related to visible transmittance and also the amount of air that can leak out of the edges of the window. When purchasing energy saving windows with multiple glazing, you will find that such windows use more than a single glass layer (or another material). The thickness of the different layers will affect the insulation properties of the window.
If the energy saving windows use gas in them then the gas used can be Argon or Krypton – both of which offer good insulation properties. Low-e glass on the other hand is glass that has been coated with certain coating (transparent) of tin oxide or silver. This will allow light to pass through the window but will prevent heat from entering through the window. It is also necessary to choose energy saving windows which have edge spacers of a high quality as that would ensure better prevention of air leakage.
Replacing an old window with a better energy saving window can prove to be a very wise decision. This is because energy saving windows will insulate the home four times more effectively as compared to old windows. This in turn will translate into better money savings and it will also help protect our fragile environment as well.
Choosing appropriate energy saving windows can often confuse the uninitiated buyer. However, if you find yourself becoming confused you can dispel this confusion by speaking to a good window contractor who is an expert in energy efficient windows. They will help you find the best and most suitable energy saving windows.