Replacement Windows – How To Be Energy Efficient

Homeowners eager to select high performing, energy efficient windows need look no further than Simonton Windows. The vinyl window and patio door manufacturer offers a wide variety of thermally efficient glass and spacer options, including products that meet ENERGY STAR guidelines for all areas of the country.

“At Simonton, we have a ‘menu list’ of options that make it easy for homeowners to select the window package that best meets their personal and geographic needs,” says Dennis Sellers, executive vice president of product development for Simonton Windows. “We construct high quality windows for both new construction and remodeling projects that are designed to achieve optimum year-round thermal efficiencies in all climate conditions.”

An ENERGY STAR partner since 1999, Simonton Windows has worked to ensure that products in all of the company’s product lines can meet the stringent ENERGY STAR guidelines. “Windows and doors labeled compliant with ENERGY STAR guidelines are 40 percent more efficient than products manufactured to meet common building code guidelines,” says Sellers. “This translates into large energy savings each year for homeowners.”

Glass options abound from Simonton Windows. Insulating glass units feature an airtight seal for optimum performance. Warm-edge technology, combined with setting the windows ¾” deep into the sash for added protection, provide a “wrap around blanket” for the edges of the glass, providing protection against conduction, the energy transfer from one material to another by direct contact. As a result, the potential for condensation is reduced.

Low E coatings on glass are a basic upgrade that help keep air cooler inside the home during summer months and warmer during winter months. Low E glass blocks out up to 84 percent of ultraviolet (UV) rays which can fade carpeting, window treatments and harm plants.

Argon gas filled into windows coated with Low E provides homeowners with an even higher rated energy efficient unit. Argon, which is six times denser than air, drastically reduces the transfer of heat and cold, making the window unit more thermal efficient.

Simonton also offers different Low E coating packages for windows intended for northern and southern climates. These customized Low E packages help maintain even temperature control and block harmful UV rays from entering the structure.

Other glasses that help deflect UV rays include tinted glass (in bronze and grey) and obscure glass. Both single- and double-strength glass along with KeepSafe™ laminated glass (featuring impact resistant and noise reduction features) are also available as options in various Simonton products.

While glass selection is important for the overall energy efficiency of a window or patio door, it should not be a homeowner’s only consideration. The actual construction of the unit is critical in the overall efficiency of a window.

“Consumers need as much information on the step-by-step construction of window units as they do on the glass that goes into them,” says Sellers. “You can have the best glass possible, but if the window is built poorly, then the thermal performance suffers.”

At Simonton Windows, multi-chambered construction and dual-tower glazing legs help increase condensation resistance and the overall structure of the window. Intercept® Spacer and Super Spacer® systems are options available to ensure an airtight seal.

The Intercept Spacer system, constructed of tin-plated steel in a U-channel design, is less conductive than aluminum. The U-channel design eliminates a major conduction path across the top of the spacer. As a result, temperatures are forced to travel indirectly around the spacer instead of directly across the glass. Since the U-channel flexes with the glass as it expands and contracts, there is less opportunity for breakage and seal failure. A rubberized sealant surrounding the spacer prevents direct metal to glass contact.

For the ultimate in thermal spacer performance, Simonton’s optional Super Spacer system is made of non-metallic solid silicone foam containing millions of small, insulating air pockets. The foam does not conduct energy as quickly as four-sided aluminum or steel spacers, resulting in lower conduction and condensation rates. The solid silicone foam offers flexible strength that helps reduce stress cracks and ensures that the I.G. unit retains an airtight seal.

“By combining the solid construction of vinyl windows with upgraded spacer systems and glass options, homeowners can select windows with the appropriate thermal performance features whether they live in like Miami, Seattle or Minneapolis,” says Sellers. “The time homeowners invest in selecting windows will pay off with outstanding thermal performance for years to come.”

For more information, visit www.simonton.com. Also see; vinyl replacement windows.

Author Notes:

Mary Kyra contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.replacement-windows-n-shutters.com. Find everything you need to know about replacement windows, shutters, tinting, basement, fiberglass windows and more.