Many people are unfamiliar with the concepts behind climate-friendly windows when faced with the decision about whether to install them. In general, an eco-friendly window refers to the entire unit. They usually feature double pane glass with an air gap between the panels. This keeps hot air inside and helps prevent fogging and frosting. Other features contribute to climate-friendly windows being the right choice for window installation in Boston and the surrounding area.
Aside from glass that provides year-round insulation during every season, these windows often feature a glaze that adds protection. A low-e glaze prevents UV light from getting inside homes, which protects people, furniture, and carpeting. Climate-friendly frames like wood, vinyl, or composite material resist temperature transfer and damage from water and freeze-thaw cycles.
When to Choose Climate-Friendly Windows
Energy efficient windows are most suited for when you need:
- Improved comfort: Climate-friendly windows, with their insulative properties, can reduce the demand on your heating and cooling system because they allow for better temperature control. Low thermal conductivity keeps your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter without a single update to your HVAC system.
- Lower utility bills: Less work reaching and maintaining the desired temperature and humidity level means less energy expended, which translates into lower monthly bills. You can save on electricity and heating costs, while the windows can add resale value to your home, allowing you to recoup some of the window replacement cost.
- A better night’s sleep: Low-e glass limits the amount of light that enters your room at night. Higher light levels can interfere with sleep. By reducing the amount of light pollution in your home, you can get a better night’s sleep thanks to natural processes that rely on darkness to allow your body to get the rest it needs.
- Less noise from outside: Insulated windows and improved materials help muffle a variety of noises from outside, including those from vehicles, conversing pedestrians, loud music, construction work, etc. Noise control helps improve the environment in your home. It can feel more private and freer of the distractions that outside noise can cause.
- New windows: Older windows don’t provide the energy-saving benefits that today’s solutions do. If your existing windows are more than 20 years old, it may be time for replacements. When your current wood, vinyl, or aluminum windows are cracked, warped, or showing other signs of wear, it is time to consider replacement windows that both look and perform better.
But a visual look at your windows doesn’t always tell the full story. And a rising energy bill doesn’t always mean the utility company is overcharging you. It can mean your windows are no longer providing adequate insulation.
Climate-friendly windows address this and also offer an opportunity to install more durable materials, such as fiberglass. Fiberglass windows have a low emissivity coating, which is good for temperature control, and does not expand and contract with seasonal temperature changes. The durability extends to the paint coating as well, which won’t fade, chip, or peel with exposure to the sun.
Replace Your Windows with Window World of Boston
Whether you want double hung, sliding, casement and awning, bay and bow, or garden windows, we can install SolarZone™ Low-E insulating glass, a Warm-Edge Spacer System, and argon gas for added insulation. We are an ENERGY STAR® partner and install over 1 million residential replacement windows per year. Request a free estimate online today. Or, call our local Shrewsbury, Pembroke, or Woburn office for information and assistance.
