Window Efficiency

Indiana home Inspector would like to share some information about window efficiency in the Southern Indiana and Louisville area. Windows provide our homes with light, warmth, and ventilation but in the winter time they can lack on performance. Placing your hand against a window pane on a cold day proves the point. If the pane feels cold, there’s a good chance you can reduce your energy costs by either insulating your windows or installing new ones. Insulating with drapes is a low cost fix to drafty windows and reduce heat loss up to 10 percent and in the summer months they can block out the heat, providing a 33%reduction in heat gain. Interior storm windows are another fix and consist of flexible or rigid plastic installed over existing window panes. If you decide to purchase new windows, be sure to choose energy efficient models that will save heating and cooling costs all year long. Energy Star has established a set of energy performance ratings tailored to four climate zones across the US to guide you in selecting new windows. These ratings are broken down into several catorgories although U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coeffiecient (SHGC) are the most basic. U-Factor simply meastures how easily heat can flow through a window, not counting direct sunligh. The lower the number the more energy efficient it is. SHGC measures how much heat from sunlight can be absorbed by the window. A high number means the window remains effective at collecting heat during the winter. A low number provides greater shading ability and may be best for Southern climates. For Indiana U-Factor of .40 or lower and a SHGC of .55 or greater works best. For more info visit www.energystar.gov