The two most common and recognizable energy ratings for windows and doors are U-value and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) is a third rating that gets discussed. Though VLT does not measure energy performance, it does have a direct correlation to SHGC, so understanding their relationship is important when considering what products to purchase for your home.
U-Value
U-value measures the rate of heat loss through a product, and is depicted as a number ranging from zero to one. A window or door with a lower U-value will have a greater resistance to heat flow, therefore improving the ability to keep heat inside the home. U-values are most important in cooler climates, where homeowners spend more time and money heating their homes. In those cooler climates, a lower U-value is desired to maintain a warmer interior temperature during the heating season.
SHGC
SHGC measures the ability to control solar heat gain through the glass of a window or door, and illustrates how much of the sun’s heat enters the home. This rating is measured as a ratio between zero and one. A rating of zero means that no solar heat passes through the window or door, while a rating of one means that all possible solar heat passes through. SHGC is most pertinent in warm climates, where homeowners spend more time and money cooling their homes. In those warmer climates, a lower SHGC is desired to deflect more of the sun’s energy and keep the home cooler..
VLT
VLT measures how much light in the visible spectrum passes through the glass of a window or door. VLT is measured as a ratio between zero and one. A rating of zero means that no visible light passes through the glass; these windows are typically heavily tinted. A window with a VLT rating of one allows all visible light in; this would make for an extremely bright room. A window or door with a rating close to one will likely let in too much light, which could cause fading of furniture or textiles inside the home. Most windows and doors manufactured today allow enough visible light transmittance to keep the home comfortably lit without causing damage to interior household items.
All of these ratings – U-value, SHGC, and VLT – are set and standardized by two programs: the NFRC and ENERGY STAR®.
NFRC
The National Fenestration Rating Council is a non-profit organization that developed the uniform rating system used to measure the energy performance of fenestration products. These ratings are standard for all products, regardless of the material they are made of; performance is the only thing that matters. That means all windows are compared apples-to-apples, regardless of their construction (vinyl, aluminum, or wood for example). The organization was formed in 1989. Since then, the NFRC has been responsible for the development of a number of new window technologies such as low-E coatings, low-conductance spacers, and gas-fill glazing enhancements.
ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR is a voluntary program established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that provides energy- and money-saving tips to businesses and homeowners. ENERGY STAR provides standards for products to become ENERGY STAR-qualified depending on which region of the U.S. they will be used in. The ENERGY STAR window program was established in 1998. To be recognized as ENERGY STAR qualified, a window or door must:
- Be manufactured by an ENERGY STAR partner
- Be independently tested and certified by the NFRC
- Have NFRC ratings that meet strict guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy
If a product cannot meet these standards, it will not be rated as ENERGY STAR-qualified and therefore cannot be sold with the ENERGY STAR label. These objectives provide manufacturers with incentive to develop the most energy-efficient products possible, which in turn provides money-saving benefits for homeowners.
A number of variables, such as glass coatings, the number of glass units, spacers, and gas-fill enhancements can affect the energy performance of a window or door.
Glass Coatings
Standard Low-E is a metallic coating that helps improve a window’s energy performance by reflecting sunlight, thereby helping to maintain the temperature inside a home. Homeowners can also opt for high-performance, or HP, Low-E, which characterized by additional layers of metallic coatings on multiple glass surfaces, further enhancing the products energy performance.
Number of Glass Units
Today, very few windows are manufactured with only a single pane of glass. Most products are manufactured with two panes of glass, which offer a significant boost in energy efficiency compared to single-pane units. For homeowners looking to make noticeable changes in the energy efficiency of their home, some products can be manufactured with three panes of glass. Any glass unit with more than one pane is called an insulated glass unit, or IGU.
Spacers
A spacer’s primary function is to maintain the appropriate amount of space between panes in IGU’s. Spacers also help prevent condensation build-up between panes of glass, reduce the loss of any insulating gas, and decrease stress put on the glass caused by expansion and contraction due to changes in air pressure.
For years, spacers were made of aluminum, a highly conductive material. Due to its high conductivity, aluminum spacers can cause high heat loss and can lead to cold spots in the window, as well as condensation along the window’s bottom edge. Today. warm-edge spacers are becoming increasingly popular among window manufacturers. Warm-edge spacers eliminate problems associated with metal spacers by using materials that are non-conductive – there is almost no metal used in their production. Two primary types of warm-edge spacers used today are composite laminate and thermoset foam.
Composite laminate spacers are produced with no metal, which means they are completely non-conductive. The majority of the spacer is comprised of air, which improves the window’s energy-efficiency, insulating abilities, and condensation resistance.
Thermoset foam spacers are made from organic foam, which enhances the window’s sound dampening capabilities. This foam also allows the spacer to expand and contract with changing air pressure, while always returning to its original shape. This reduces the likelihood for stress cracks and seal failure. The amount of heat flow is also reduced when using thermoset foam, which can lead to lower energy costs and reduced condensation.
Another common type of spacer is a stainless steel spacer. Stainless steel provides strength and durability, and allows for expansion and contraction of the window due to changes in air pressure. Similar to thermoset foam spacers, this ability to expand and contract will reduce the likelihood of stress cracks and seal failure. The use of stainless steel also improves the retention of insulating gas, thereby improving the window’s energy-efficiency.
Learn more about important options available for your windows and sliding glass doors.
Gas-Fill Enhancements
Gas-fill enhancements act as an insulator between dual- or triple-paned windows. The gas helps keep the temperature of the interior panel closer to that of the home. This in turn helps reduce drafts and cold spots and makes for a more comfortable interior space. The most common type of insulating gas is argon, which is denser than air and therefore helps reduce air transfer through a window to improve a home’s energy efficiency. Krypton and xenon gases are less commonly used gases, that provide varying levels of energy and saving.
Energy performance is one of the most important factors to consider when looking to update your home with new windows or doors. A number of ratings should be evaluated when analyzing overall energy performance, and understanding these ratings will help you make an informed decision when purchasing your next set of windows and doors.
At MI Windows and Doors, we are committed providing our customers with high-quality, energy-efficient products. To do this, we proudly partner with ENERGY STAR® and work to continuously improve our products to meet its increasingly stringent requirements.
Our products work to put an end to cold drafts and overheated spaces by creating consistent, comfortable interior temperatures. Most MI vinyl products are available as ENERGY STAR-qualified in all regions, and many require no upgrades to achieve the rating. Aluminum products qualify for ENERGY STAR certification in South, South-Central and North-Central regions. For full details on ENERGY STAR ratings, view our product listing.
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