Video: How to Choose Windows for Energy Efficiency

One of the biggest considerations when choosing new replacement windows is their energy efficiency. In this video from the folks at AEPowerHouseTV you are shown the basics about choosing a energy-efficient replacement windows for your home.

Video Transcript:

0:09
Welcome back to powerhouse, any opening your wall reduces the overall efficiency of the wall structure. That’s where energy escapes the easiest all year round.

Joining us now is Matthew Hagman of the Pella Corporation. He’s a product specialist and Matthew, let’s talk about new windows and what we need to be looking for.

When we’re talking about energy efficiency in new windows, what should we be looking for?

Yeah, absolutely.

The first thing you want to look for when you think about new windows and energy efficiency is that Energy Star label. So finding that Energy Star label much like you might find it on other appliances in the home is a great way to point you in the direction of this is this is where I need to start my search.

Now a lot of different options and variations when we’re looking at windows, right? Absolutely. So and you really want to keep in mind the the location of where the window is going to go for what you want to choose. So think about the window over your kitchen sink, you might want to choose that to be a casement are sliding windows, so it’s easier to operate.

As opposed to a double-hung, if you have a window that extends all the way up to the ceiling might be a little bit different to offer operate. So you want to make sure you’re considering the location of the product in order before you make those selections. So a lot of things to keep in mind.

Let’s start with efficiency. And we talk a lot about to pain is that the sort of the gold standard, if you will, absolutely. So what we have here on display is a two-pane, insulating glass window. So what we have is is an exterior and an interior pane. And then there’s an insulating gas between they’re commonly called argon. What that does is that prevents the coal from coming into the home during the wintertime.

This is generally a gold standard. And this is going to be a great product that’s going to last for a long time and provide exceptional energy efficiency with an energy star rating. But what we’re seeing is more and more homeowners like to choose a triple pane window.

What this provides is an additional pane on the inside provides a little bit thicker cavity for for a little bit more energy efficiency as well. And this will of course, just be a little bit more energy efficient to help save on those utility bills in the wintertime. Now again. So if we move up to a three pane, I’m guessing cost is a little bit more.

Yep, it will cost a little bit more. But in many parts of the countries, it makes a lot of sense to to choose this option. All right. One of the things that many of our viewers talk to us about is Matthew is condensation on Windows. Talk to us a little bit about, you know what, what’s causing condensation.

Absolutely. So there’s really three main areas where condensation can occur, condensation could occur on the inside of the pane of glass like we have here, it can occur on the outside of the pane of glass, and it can occur between the panes of glass. So on the inside of the pane, really the cause of condensation is when it’s cold outside.

So in the wintertime, it might be zero degrees. And you have a hot humid environment inside your homes, maybe you’re cooking in the kitchen, or you’ve got a bathroom where you’re just taking a hot shower, condensation can occur there.

Because you’re looking for the air to touch a cool surface, much like you will have a cold glass of water on a hot summer day, you’ll get condensation on the side of the glass.

So the same thing can occur on the exterior of the window. When you have hot moist air touching the cold x exterior of the glass that will cause condensation to occur on the outside of the window as well. Finally, when you have condensation between the panes of glass, there’s really nothing you can do there. So that’s really a sign of what we like to call insulating glass seal failure. And that’s really a sign that your window is is a need of replace. Now, if I had a three pane window, would that be less likely to have condensation?

Um, yeah, absolutely. So if you do choose the three pane window, it’s going to increase the insulating value of that window and prevent condensation from forming both on the interior and the exterior because it helps provide a little bit better insulating value across the panes of glass.

So that would absolutely help reduce the chance of condensation forming anything else we need to pay attention to Matthew when we’re thinking about Windows for our homes,

I would just say regardless of what a homeowner chooses to do, just make sure that you choose a quality product that is energy efficient because this is something you don’t want to turn around and do and in five years again,

well a lot of great information Matthew, thanks for sharing that with absolutely