The Energy Efficiency Blueprint for Windows

If you’ve taken a look at a window, you have most definitely seen the Energy Star rating sticker before. The funny thing about energy-saving windows is that the majority of people have no clue what an Energy Star rating even means, beyond being considered some measurement of unknown efficiency.

But believe it or not, things go much deeper than just an Energy Star sticker. There is something called the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) which tests, labels and, certifies windows, doors, and skylights based on their energy efficiency. The thing about the NFRC is that its rating is found on every single Energy Star qualified unit. But Energy Star themselves only rates on two factors, U-Factor and solar heat gain coefficient ratings.

That leaves us with one distinct question, what is an energy efficient window?

What is an Energy Efficient Window?

Energy Efficient windows are basically the Ferrari of windows. They’re built with one purpose, much like a Ferrari. This purpose is to keep cold or heated air inside your home, while keeping air from the elements out of your home.

By having efficient windows, you’re saving your home from being exposed to dirt, pests, and even mold. An energy efficient window will also keep your HVAC system from having to work unpaid overtime. When the temperature of your home changes, your HVAC system works harder to maintain the temperature in which it’s set at. When it works harder like this, you may be shortening its life but also increasing your energy bills by a shocking amount.

Temperature Gain and Loss

Windows can lose temperature through:

• The solar radiation that penetrates a house, which is converted to heat when it reaches building surfaces.
• Air leakage through and around the sides of window panes.
• Direct conduction or convection heat transfer through the glass panes or glazing and framing.
• Thermal radiation coming into the home or leaving the home through room-temperature objects and items.

Efficiency Rating

U-factor is the first rating criteria that Energy Star qualified units rate based on. To put it into simple terms, U-factor is the rate at which, in this case, a window transmits non-solar heat flow. In many cases though, this may just refer to the glass or glazing on its own.

Where things get tricky is adding National Fenestration Council Ratings (NFRC) into the mix. These ratings never take a partial window into account. The NFRC’s ratings only care about the entire window’s performance, including the frame and spacing material. But honestly, you don’t care about that. The only thing you should know is that the lower the U-factor, the higher in energy efficiency the window is.

Our second rating criteria is the aforementioned solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) which will be explained from the point of view of windows. Simply put, this is just the fraction of solar radiation admitted through a window – either transmitted directly and/or absorbed and released inside of a dwelling.

The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat it transmits. A window with a higher SHGC rating is more effective at collecting heat during the winter. A window with a lower SHGC rating will be more effective at reducing cooling loads during the summer time. This is because the lower SHGC blocks heat gain from the sun.

Additional Windows Energy Efficiency Criteria

If you thought the previous segment was the pinnacle of our adventure into the world of windows energy efficiency and their ratings, you are absolutely in for a ride. Not only do we have those two main categories, but there are three other sub-categories for determining the exact energy efficiency of a window.

Window Air Leakage Efficiency

This is the rate at which air movement is happening around a window in the presence of a specific pressure difference around it. When a window has a lower air leakage rating it’s actually tighter than a window with a higher air leakage rating. This is all assuming that the windows are properly installed like they are by the professionals at Victors Home Solutions.

Sunlight Transmission by Windows

Did you know that the amount of sunlight coming into your home through your windows can actually be measured? The most common way is through visible transmittance or (VT) on a scale of 0 to 1. This is a fraction of the visible sunlight coming in through windows into your house, it’s measured in nanometers between 380 and 720. Windows that have a higher VT transmit more visible light into your home. Knowing the amount of VT you need for your home is best left to the experts. They can determine your home’s daylighting requirements and calculate the perfect solutions for your needs.

Most Important Energy Efficient Windows Keywords

• U-factor: U-factor is the rate at which, in this case, a window transmits non-solar heat flow. In many cases though, this may just refer to the glass or glazing on its own.
• NFRC Rating: The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) tests, labels and certifies, windows, doors, and skylights based on their energy efficiency. The thing about the NFRC is that its rating is found on every single Energy Star qualified unit.
• R-Value: A building materials insulation level. Regionally these are determined in the United States of America and slightly differ based on the location of the residence.
• Argon Gas: Bet you never knew there is Argon gas between the glass panels of many windows. The thing about this gas is that it is colorless and odorless. Argon gas also has very low thermal conductivity. The gas itself is put between double and triple-pane windows and when on the same team as Low-E glass, you have a killer temperature regulator and energy efficiency machine.
• Low-E Glass: Low emissivity glass which we mentioned in the previous point is glass that has been treated with a microscopic metal coating that filters the ultraviolet (UV) light that tries to enter your home. By passing UV rays through the glass and its filter, the heat gain in your home during the spring or summer is lower and greater during the winter. Helping your HVAC system to regulate and saving you big money in the name of energy efficiency.
• U-Value Kit: A U-Value kit helps you to determine if your windows are energy efficient. It’s a commonly used tool that measures the heat loss around various types of windows in your abode.

Energy Efficient Windows Programs

Now that you know all the secrets to energy efficient windows ratings, it’s time to tell you about the many programs and energy efficient windows tax credits that are available if you decide to take the leap.

The best way to find out about energy efficiency windows programs near your area is to plug in your information into Fannie Mae’s Energy Savings Program Finder. This is the most useful tool so far that consolidates all the information you might find after several hours of searching into one easy to read document. You will be able to click on each link as pictured below and read into the specifications and how they apply to you.

Of course, every single one of these items on the list is an online government or utility program to help owners or renters with financing energy-efficient upgrades or home repairs.

Keep in mind however, for the time being this tool is only available to certain states. More to be added later, but consider yourself lucky if you reside in: Arizona, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island, and Texas.

The Energy Efficient Windows Tax Credit

Delving a little deeper, the windows energy efficiency tax credit is something that you can take advantage of if you decide getting new windows installed with a top notch energy star or energy efficiency rating is the angle for you.

Now, it would be a lie to say that this is called the energy efficient windows tax credit. What is being described here is actually the energy efficient home improvement credit. This is an energy efficient windows tax credit and program that is sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

For qualified home improvements made in the energy efficiency department after January 1st, 2023 through the year of 2032, you can qualify for a tax credit of up to $3,200 depending on what work is completed. This credit covers 30% of certain qualified expenses which we will cover in the next section.

The Home Energy Audit

The home energy audit is a wonderful way to determine the energy efficiency of your home. The audit itself consists of a full inspection and written report of your principal residence and will give you a plan of action for upping your home’s energy efficiency game.

This is done by identifying the best cost-based windows energy efficient improvements along with improvements to the rest of the residence and an estimate of energy efficiency savings based on the improvements made.

The person giving this audit is actually a certified home energy auditor, so you know that you are getting the best service available to you.

Qualified Windows Energy Efficiency Improvements

As we dive deeper into the world of energy efficiency windows tax credits, we come to a major fork in the road. This fork in the road isn’t literal, but instead, is figurative. What is covered under the energy efficiency improvements for the tax credit?

To start, any improvement must have an estimated life expectancy of five years. It’s also not just windows that qualify, but other improvements as well:

Exterior doors

• Meet applicable energy star standards
• Credit limited to $250 per door or $500 total

Exterior windows and skylights

• Meeting Energy Star most efficient certification requirements
• Credit limited to $600 total

Insulation and air sealing materials or systems

• Meet International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) standards
• Must meet standard two years before effect takes place
• No specific credit limit, only applies to maximum of $1,200

Are There Energy Efficient Windows Near Me?

There wouldn’t be any point of windows energy efficiency tax credits and programs if you couldn’t find some energy efficiency windows nearby. Of course, to qualify for all of these programs you’ll need an existing home located in the United States. If you have that, it’s just time to find a qualified installation professional such as Victors Home Solutions.

After Victors Home Solutions or another qualified installer visits your home, you’ll be able to begin your preparation for your tax credit by getting into the energy efficient savings with IRS form 5695.

To find a qualified energy efficient windows installer, check out this locator!