Opinions expressed by Digital Journal contributors are their own.
If you’re considering installing new windows in your home, it can be challenging to decide which brand is the best option. There are so many different window manufacturers out there these days that it can seem impossible to choose just one. While they all promise quality and durability, not all deliver on these promises.
With over 20 years of experience in the home improvement industry, Brandon Fiume perfectly understands the dogma that homeowners are in when they want to improve their homes. The constant pull and push between sales representatives, contractors, manufacturers, and themselves.
However, when it comes to windows (as he is a specialist in this area), Fiume explains that one of the most important things to pay attention to when shopping for new windows is their environmental standards and energy efficiency.
According to HomeAdvisor data, the national cost of replacing a window can go up to $2000. Multiply that by ten windows, and you are suddenly looking at a huge bill. Still, Brandon Fiume points out that homeowners shouldn’t go for the most expensive ones but those with the best value.
“If you want to ensure that you’re getting the best windows for your home, you need to do a little research,” he says. “Besides letting the sunlight in, your windows also act as a heat barrier between your home and outside. If you choose unnecessarily cheap windows, you can end up with an unnecessarily expensive energy bill.”
So, how do you know which window is good and which will drive the bill up? As Brandon Fiume points out, there are two key measures people should be aware of when comparing different windows’ energy efficiency – U-Factor and Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC).
The U-Factor is the indicator of the window’s thermal conductivity. In simpler words, it shows how much hot air will escape your home when it’s cold outside or how much will enter when it’s hot. The scale is usually between 0.2 to 1.25, and Fiume explains that the lower the number, the better the window’s insulation. SHGC can be complicated to understand at first, but it shows the amount of solar energy the window lets inside your house. The higher the number, the more energy goes through.
Fiume explains that people should always go for a lower U-Factor when choosing these numbers. However, when it comes to SHGC, their climate is an important factor. “It all depends on the climate for SHGC levels. If the winters in your area are harsh and summers are not very hot, you should go for higher SHGC as that will allow the sun to heat your home,” he says.
For people in hot climates is the opposite – lower SGHC means less solar heat, and it’s easier to maintain cool indoor temperatures. “Don’t worry about paying a little more for a quality product,” he adds. “If you choose right, you will save on your energy bill, negating the costs of installing your new windows.”
