Energy efficiency is crucial for replacement windows in Winnipeg, MB. But what does energy efficiency really mean? Energy efficient windows help regulate the air and temperature inside your home by keeping the outside air out. These windows use design, technology and construction to help keep your heater or air conditioner from working overtime. This not only lowers your carbon footprint but also to reduces your energy spending.

There are many kinds of energy efficient windows, each one offering different kinds of energy efficiency. Luckily, each window comes with an energy efficiency label to help you better understand what it offers. These labels have energy efficiency information clearly and concisely listed to help you make an informed decision when shopping for either replacement or new construction windows.

While these energy efficiency labels don’t tell you which windows to buy outright, they do provide general but clear information so you can decide for yourself the best windows for your home. The labels list different window ratings to give you a better idea of what the window can do. The ratings most commonly seen on energy efficiency labels are:

• Visible Transmittance – Visible transmittance, or VT, is the percentage of visible light that a window transmits. In other words, it shows the amount of daylight an energy efficient vinyl window lets in. For example, a .55 VT window lets in 55% visible light. Since light is energy and energy is heat, lower VT rating mean cooler homes in sunny environments.

• U-Value – U-Value is the measure of the rate of non-solar heat gain or loss, typically through a material or construction choice. Tests to determine a window’s U-Value are generally conducted in simulated environments with 0 degree temperatures outside, 70 degrees inside and a 15 mile per hour wind speed. The lower a U-Value a window has, the more resistant it is to heat flow and the better it is at insulating your home.
• Solar Heat Gain Coefficient – Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, or SHGC, is the amount of solar radiation that any particular window emits through both absorption and inward release. A low SHGC means that window transmits low amounts of solar heat, meaning it has good shading ability. Get low SHGC energy efficient vinyl windows if you live in particularly sunny climates, but high SHGC windows if you live in areas with lots of clouds or rain, like Washington.

Different kinds of windows, from different materials to different designs, offer varying kinds of energy efficiency. Some windows are better than others for different climates and regions. Check out the climate zone map online to figure out what ratings, and therefore what windows, are best for your home.

If you want to learn more about energy efficiency and what the different labels and ratings mean, Pioneer Window & Door Mfg Ltd can help. We offer Winnipeg, MB replacement window services and can help you choose the best windows for your home. Visit our showroom at 8 Fast Lane Headingley, MB, R4H 0C5 to see options in person, or give us a call at (204) 889-8422 for more information.