Windows provide natural daylight and views, but homeowners often use drapes or blinds to cover them because of comfort concerns. ENERGY STAR qualified windows and skylights allow owners to enjoy the light and views while saving money on utility bills and helping to protect valuable furnishings and finishes from sun damage. Independently tested for superior energy performance, ENERGY STAR qualified windows and skylights are also better for the environment because lowering energy use helps reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants at the source.
The following are benefits of replacing your conventional windows and skylights with ENERGY STAR qualified windows and skylights:
- Energy Savings: ENERGY STAR qualified windows and skylights feature advanced technologies such as invisible glass coatings, vacuum-sealed spaces filled with inert gas between the panes, improved framing materials, better weather stripping, and warm edge spacers, all of which reduce undesirable heat gain and loss.
- Improved Home Comfort: Compared to less efficient windows, ENERGY STAR qualified windows help keep homes warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. This is because they can block 70 percent or more of the solar heat gain in the summer and reflect radiant heat indoors during winter.
- Protection of Your Home's Interior: Photographs, furniture, flooring, and window treatments can fade or discolor after repeated exposure to direct sunlight. An ENERGY STAR qualified window with special (Low-e) coatings can reduce fading. These coatings are like sunscreen for the house, blocking 90% or more of damaging ultraviolet light.
- Reduced Condensation: If an inefficient window or window frame gets too cold, water can condense (or even freeze) on the interior surface and then pool on the sill. Over time, chronic condensation can damage window sills, cause paint to crack, and encourage the growth of mold. Advanced frames, glass coatings, spacers, and other technologies enable ENERGY STAR qualified windows to keep the inner surface of the glass and frame warmer, reducing the potential for condensation and ensuring a clearer view on winter mornings. Multiple glazings Low-E coating Gas fill Warm edge spacers Improved frame materials.
Source: ENERGY STAR
