Don't Throw Money Out the Window

Don't Throw Money Out the Window

Untitled Document

Have you ever felt your window as cold as ice during the winter or burning hot during the summer, while your heater (or air conditioner) is operating at full blast? If so, you are definitely throwing money out the window ! Consider making changes on your existing window, before you have to sell your heater (or A/C) to pay for energy bills.

Window technology has improved dramatically in recent years because of the conscious effort to save on energy. Below are some of the features to improve the thermal efficiency window.

1. Glazing.

Gone are the days when a window is made up of a frame, a glass pane and a latch. Today, energy-efficient window-designs require a minimum of two (2) layers of glass, called double-glazed windows. Double-glazing insulates almost twice as well as single glazing (single glass pane). It is also possible to add a third or fourth layer to further improve the results. Some of these windows use clear glass only; others opt to install additional layer of thin plastic films for tinting as well as further insulation.

2. Thickness of air space.

In between the two glass panes in a double-glazed window is a space filled with the air. With a thicker air space, the window will be better insulated because it will have a better transfer of heat. Thicknesses range from ¼ " to 1". If the air is wider than 1", however, there is no further gain in performance.

3. Type of air in the space.

Traditional double-glazed windows were filled with air or flushed with dry nitrogen to ensure that the air does not leak. In a sealed glass pane, heat is carried to the top of the air space while cold pools settle at the bottom. By filling the space with a less conductive gas like argon (Ar), carbon dioxide (CO2), krypton (Kr), and argon-krypton mixtures, the overall transfer of heat between the inside and outside is reduced. It should be noted that the thickness of the airspace also depends on the kind of gas that is used to fill it.

4. Edge spacers.

What holds the panes of glass apart are the edge spacers. These also provide the airtight seal in the window. Before, hollow-aluminum channels filled with desiccant beads were used as edge spacers. Since Aluminum is a highly conductive material, heat loss (or gain) is now occurring through the edges. Improvements to the material used include thin-walled steel with thermal breaks, or silicone foam or butyl rubber. A low-cost option when ordering windows would be to consider

How To Save Energy?

Can you make a difference in the world by making your home more energy efficient?

Yes! And not just by helping out the environment and fighting global warming. You can also make a difference in your pocketbook.

Click here to read more!

Today's Article

ENERGY SAVING HEATER: FOR A HOTTER, WORRY-FREE LIVING
Let's face it. Nowadays, everything seems to be on their way to the top, and that is, prices are getting higher each day. You have done everything you could just to save more for the future. You have tried all the advices of the...

insulating edge seals with traditional aluminum spacers.

5. Low-E coatings.

Low-emittance (Low-E) coating are very thin, metal or metallic oxide layers set on a window glazing surface primarily to improve the heat transfer (reduce the U-factor). Heat is transferred in multilayer glass from a warm pane to a cooler pane. With a low-emittance coated material facing the air space between the glass layers, it blocks a significant amount of heat transfer, thus reducing the total heat flow through the window. Different types of low-e treatment are now available for different climate zones and different applications in any particular location.

Enough about the glass pane, let's now focus on the materials surrounding the glass, the window frame. Different kinds of materials can be used for the encasement, depending on aesthetics (suits the design of the home), durability (resistance to storm, wind or extreme weather) and, of course, energy efficiency (U-factor). Metals (aluminum, or light metal) for example are lightweight and easy to clean, but conducts heat rapidly. If metals must be used for window frames, ensure to place insulating material between the inside and outside of the frame and sash. Wood (natural and composite) have better thermal properties, but must be treated for moisture and termite decay. Natural wood also contracts and expands through weather changes and can be heavy and thick, thus reducing the view and light passing through. Plastics (fiberglass, PVC, vinyl) have the highest thermal resistance as compared to the previous, especially if treated with insulation. It has good moisture resistance and need no painting because color treatment is already incorporated in its production. However, at extreme temperatures, they may expand, warp or crack. Also, if exposed to sunlight for long hours, colors tend to fade over time.

Lastly, here are simple steps to ensure you are buying an energy-efficient window:

a. Look for NFRC label as your guide to energy performance (U-rating) and to suit your climate, before buying a window.

b. Choose windows with good warranties against the loss of the air seal. If the glazing seal is lost, not only will fogging occur, but also any low-conductivity gas between the layers of glass will immediately be lost.

c. Hire only skilled contractors to install your new windows. This will ensure that they will perform as well as they should.

What else are you waiting for? STOP throwing money OUT YOUR WINDOW!

Today's #1 Resources

THE FACTORS THAT BUILD AN ENERGY SAVING HOUSE
Today, saving is a vital element in everyday living. It is even more crucial when building anew house. Why? Because it is a practical approach, nowadays, to build a structure that has the elements of an energy saving house. You're not...

All Is Bright: Energy Saving Lighting
The modern world without light is as unimaginable as the modern world without computers. Today's designs point to making our small living spaces appear larger because of proper lighting and decoration - this may mean candles, halogen...

Find More Articles And Resources From www.profitablecustombuiltsites.com/EnergySaving

Only The Best Products

Biodiesel-Makerss Energy
Secrets. The Absolute Best
Method Of Making Biodiesel
At Home.
Quickly & Easily!

Get Better Fuel Economy
Starting Today. 62 Ways
That Anyone Can Use To
Save Money On Gas, And
Make Your Tank Of Gas
Last Longer..
Insider Secrets

Untitled Document

Energy Sector Issuance Galvanizes High-Yield Bond Market Energy Sector Issuance Galvanizes High-Yield Bond Market Energy Bonds Outperform as BP Shrugs Off Junk-Debt Stigma: Credit Markets Energy-company bonds are beating the broader market this quarter as BP Plc shrugs off its junk-debt stigma on speculation its losses from the Gulf oil spill are contained.

Untitled Document