Real Estate NewsShedding Light on New-Window Options
With the thick of winter here, you may be experiencing leaking or drafty
windows. Maybe it"s time to replace those old single-pane windows. Or maybe
the winter blahs have taken hold and you"re ready for a new look. Replacing
your windows can help you save on your energy bill, provide a stylish new
look to your home, and can be a strong lure when it comes time to sell.
Remodeler Magazine says that changes in technology, including alterations
designed to increase energy efficiency and convenience features such as
tilt-out hardware, can make recently installed windows a prime selling point
for prospective buyers.
The magazine"s 2002 Cost vs.Value Report says an upscale window replacement project (replacing 10
existing 3-by-5-foot double-hung windows with double-glazed divided-light
windows with interior finish of alder or cherry and exterior finish of
copper or aluminum cladding) cost a national average of $15,502 installed
and yielded a slightly higher return of 77 percent over replacement windows
at a mid-range price point.
The mid-range job (replacing 10 existing 3-by-5-foot double-hung windows
with vinyl-clad double-glazed replacement windows and not disturbing
existing interior or exterior trim) had a national average cost of $9,424
and the cost was recouped at 74 percent.
But new windows do more than just look good. They"re also a source of heat,
and need to be tinted or shaded to reduce heat, but those options also
reduce natural light. And not only do windows increase a room"s temperature
fluctuation, but incoming light can also cause fading of carpets, fabric,
wallpaper, paint and wood.
By using energy efficient replacement windows, you can reduce light and heat
transfer, as well as heating and cooling costs.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency"s Energy Star
Program U.S. Environmental Protection Agency"s Energy Star program,
which began in 1992 as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and
promote energy-efficient products, the average household spends more than 40
percent of its annual energy budget on heating and cooling costs. You can
save 15 percent of that with Energy Star-qualified windows.
The Efficient Windows Collaborative, a group that manufactures and promotes
energy-efficient windows and receives support from the U.S. Department of
Energy"s Windows and Glazings Program, says the most harmful sunlight rays
are ultraviolet (UV), which are the most energetic and most likely to break
chemical bonds, leading to fading and degradation of materials with which
the light comes in contact.
The EPA says that windows with Energy Star labels are energy efficient all
year long and are twice as efficient as the average window produced 10 years
ago. They"re available in aluminum, fiberglass, vinyl and wood, and include
design styles such as single-hung, double-hung, casement, horizontal slider,
fixed and picture, as well as patio slider.
All Energy Star windows are labeled by the National Fenestration Rating Council, a non-profit,
public/private organization created by the window, door and skylight
industry and comprised of manufacturers, suppliers, builders, architects and
designers, specifiers, code officials, utilities and government agencies.
The NFRC provides unbiased energy performance ratings on window, door and
skylight products.
The NFRC suggests looking for the following when choosing replacement windows:
U-factor, or how well a window keeps heat inside a building. The lower the
U-Factor, the greater a window resists heat transfer. A good U-Factor to
look for is 0.35 or lower.
Solar heat gain co-efficient (SHGC), or a window"s ability to block
warming caused by sunlight. The lower an SHGC number, the less UV rays that
cause heat gain are coming through a window. Look for an SHGC number of 0.40
or lower.
Visible transmittance (VT), or how much light gets through a product. A VT
number is a direct percentage of available light coming through a window -
the higher, the more light coming through. A good percentage is about 55
percent.
Air leakage, or heat loss and gain by infiltration through cracks in the window assembly.
Low-E coatings, a microscopically thin, virtually invisible metal or
metallic oxide layer deposited on the glass during manufacturing. Low-E
coatings reduce heat transfer through the glass, and can reduce UV rays that
cause heat gain by up to 75 percent and reduce fading of interior
furnishings.
And of course windows offer style as well as function.
Design options from manufacturers include Pella"s integrated crank that
features a fold-away handle for casement windows, KML by Andersen
architectural windows in radius-top casements and double-hungs, and Andersen
Art Glass in 11 original patterns including Frank Lloyd Wright series
designs.
Window manufacturer Owens Corning suggests choosing a window style that
complements your home"s current window system. And keep in mind that the
windows you select express your personality and can give your home a great
new look.
New windows are a feature of your home you"re sure to enjoy. And with
products like Energy Star windows, you"ll save money now by reducing heating
and cooling costs, and in the future by using the windows as a selling point
when you"re home"s on the market.