The Benefits of Energy Efficient Windows on Your Home

Isn’t it great that more and more homeowners are going green? The demand for energy-efficient home appliances is rising – eco-friendly AC systems, refrigerators, light bulbs, etc. – and we’re all the better for it. The earth is healthier for it.

Here’s one thing you might not realize: there’s no need to be limited to home appliances. Even for something as simple as the windows in your home, there are environment-friendly alternatives.

Yes, we’re talking energy-efficient windows.

The windows we’ve all gotten used to in our homes are mostly designed with single panes – just one layer of glass. Energy-efficient windows, meanwhile (and while they come in different designs and materials), have a second window pane. They might also come with an injection of argon or krypton between the two panes, or with coatings on the exterior of the panes, applied basically to improve insulation and stabilize the temperature indoors. These extras make energy-efficient windows typically more expensive, but as you’ll find out below, the benefits of installing them in your home can translate to a smart investment that will certainly eventually pay for itself.

Benefits of Energy-Efficient Windows

• Less electricity consumed – lower utility costs. Simple enough, right? Because energy-efficient windows offer additional insulation capabilities, you can save as much as 10 to 15 percent of your usual monthly utility bill. And, because these windows also act as great stabilizers of the temperature inside your home, they can reduce the load carried by your HVAC system. Indeed, heating and cooling systems run much more efficiently with these high-performance windows.

• Improved comfort levels. The glazing technology incorporated in a number of energy-efficient windows makes for a more comfortable home, no matter the season. There’d be less cold air leakage and uncomfortable drafts in winter; in summer, there’d be less UV radiation and heat coming through the window panes and into your home. The overall temperature is more even and stable – not to mention easier to retain.

• Reduced fading. Are you concerned about the effects of direct sunlight on your exposed carpet, fabrics, paintings, and furniture? With energy-efficient windows you’ll have much less to worry about. The coatings on the glass of “green” windows can actually absorb UV radiation and reduce UV transmission by up to 75 percent. Several kinds of energy-efficient windows, moreover, have exterior coatings that can reduce water spots up to 99 percent – thus minimizing exterior dirt build-up and reducing spring cleaning duties.

• Better, brighter, clearer, quieter views. Going green on windows doesn’t mean you’re going to have to compromise the appearance of your home. On the contrary! Insulated glass windows come in different shapes and forms, from aluminum and fiberglass to wood and vinyl. Energy-efficient windows, apart from possessing a unique aesthetic quality, can also display better, clearer views – especially in winter. That’s because there would be significantly less condensation building up on the window pane. Oh, and the road and traffic noise that keeps a homeowner up late at night? With energy-efficient windows, sound is kept out by the insulation between the panes, insulation that also effectively acts as a sound-proofing buffer.

Are you ready to go green and install energy-efficient windows in your home? You can count on Greenwerks – Chicago’s green contractor – to get the job done.