Fraud Blocker Why It Helps to Understand Solar Heat Gain in Your Home
Get A Houseful Of Savings On Your Next Home Improvement Project!

Why It Helps to Understand Solar Heat Gain in Your Home

Why It Helps to Understand Solar Heat Gain in Your Home

If you’re planning a major window project this summer, don’t settle for just any window for your home. When it comes to replacing old windows, it’s important to learn how you can maximize their energy efficiency. Efficient windows help improve your home’s indoor comfort while lowering your monthly utility bills and reducing your carbon footprint. To determine which are the best windows for your home, you need to learn a bit more about how an energy-efficient window is designed and built.

Solar Heat Gain

As you talk to window installation contractors and learn about their products, you may encounter certain technical terms that are often used by professional window contractors. Solar heat gain, in particular, is just one of several commonly used terms in window replacement so, as a homeowner, you need to understand how it impacts your home.

How Solar Heat Gain Works

To understand how solar heat gain works, let’s look at how solar heat gain coefficient is calculated. Also known as SHGC, it determines how much solar radiation is admitted through a door, window or skylight. This is essentially the amount of the sun’s energy that turns into heat when it passes through your windows. This is similar to how a greenhouse works, as sunlight either bounces off or passes through when it hits the windows. You’ll find this rating on most ENERGY STAR®-certified windows. Lower numbers mean that the window allows less solar radiation and heat inside.

Of course, light still falls on the objects inside your home and the heat warms them up, which then warms up the indoor air. If you install windows with a high SHGC rating, they let in a lot of sunlight, while those with a low SHGC rating let in less light and heat. How much light and heat you want to let in will depend on your needs and preferences, so make sure to consult trusted window installation contractors to make an informed decision.

Can Solar Heat Gain Benefit Your Home?

As one of the area’s top window installation companies, we recommend considering what you’re aiming for in your home when choosing a product. Whether or not solar heat gain is bad or good depends on your needs and preferences. For instance, solar heat gain can be a big benefit during winter, since sunlight can stream through high-transmission windows and warm up your home naturally. This means you won’t have to rely as much on your heating system, but then it can also mean you’ll need to crank up your air conditioning system to deal with the extra heat coming in during the summer months. 

Keep in mind that you need to reduce solar heat gain in the warmer months and increase it during winter to achieve optimum energy efficiency. If you want to lower your cooling bills during the summer, consider getting windows that have a low SHGC rating. 

Managing Your Home’s Solar Heat Gain

Of course, there are other ways to reduce solar heat gain, regardless of whether you get windows that have a high or low SHGC rating. This can be done by installing shade structures such as an awning to protect your home from the sun’s heat. You can’t use just any fabric for your shade structure, however; according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), opaque and tightly woven textiles help reflect more sunlight to reduce solar heat gain. 

Choosing the Right Window 

An important factor to consider when dealing with solar heat gain involves choosing the right window for your home. As a trusted name among window manufacturers, we recommend that you learn about the other ratings typically found on ENERGY STAR-certified windows. They measure how a window performs in different categories so that you get a clear idea of the benefits for your home. 

  • U-Factor (Range: 0.20 to 1.20) – This indicates the rate of heat transfer and how well the window insulates. Lower numbers mean the window has better insulation.
  • Visible Transmittance (Range: 0 to 1) – This refers to the amount of light the window allows to pass through it. A low number means the room will be dimmer.
  • Condensation Resistance (Range: 1 to 100) – This indicates how the window resists moisture build-up. Lower numbers mean more condensation will build up on the window. 
  • Air Leakage – This indicates how much air passes through the window’s joints. The lower the number, the more airtight the window product. However, ENERGY STAR standards don’t consider air leakage because it’s hard to make an accurate measurement as window frame materials tend to expand, contract and warp over time.

If you’re looking to hire window manufacturers for your next replacement project, Window World of Boston has you covered. Call us today at (781) 262-3925 if you’re in Woburn, (781) 343-7129 if you’re in Pembroke or (508) 845-6676 if you live in Shrewsbury. You can also fill out our convenient online form!

Services We Offer
Window World of Boston has an A+ BBB Rating and offers industry-leading solutions for replacement windows, doors, siding and more. We follow through every job from start to completion while our friendly, knowledgeable staff is there to answer your questions and provide any level of customer support you need. Window World is committed to providing the highest customer satisfaction.
Testimonials
Best Company!
Window world is the best company I have ever dealt with. Everything is explained in full and the people are courteous and informative. The installer did a beautiful job...
Sharon R
Pleasantly, Stress Free
My entire experience with Window World was pleasantly, stress free. This was the fourth company I had come to my home to give me an estimate. When the sales rep., David...
Susan Rocco
Extremely Positive Experience
We had nothing but an extremely positive experience with Window World. From the sales people to the installation crew, everyone was very nice, very helpful, and they we...
Howard Kelman
23 Windows Installed
Excellent. I had 23 windows installed and wrapped trim in not even two days. The installation team was professional. I was extremely happy with the quality of the produ...
Anne C
Professional & Courteous
My salesman from Windows world was great! He knew that I knew what I wanted and you didn't try and deter me from it. He listened and got through the whole sales process...
Cheryl Vassil
Very Fair Pricing
Excellent experience. Very fair pricing, great quality windows, and everyone who I spoke to or who came here to do work was extremely friendly. I really can’t say eno...
Lindsay B.
Perfection
Window world was great, from the consultant Ron Hajj to the installers Quentin and Barry I cannot say enough. Perfection, I would definitely recommend Window World to anyone
Jeff Russell
Warranty is Outstanding
I went with Window World after getting a few other quotes but I was referred to them from a friend. The experience was great from the quote to the finished results. Mat...
Tanya Backer
I Would Recommend
The installers arrived at my house on time, and after introducing themselves got right to work. They were very knowledgeable, professional and willing to answer any que...
Ann Mccabe
Difference in the Temperature
Extremely friendly crew and customer service is easy to work with. I can already feel a difference in the temperature of our house.
Nicole Cronin
Caring About Customers
The installers were most efficient, friendly, polite, thorough. They answered all of my questions and engaged in conversation while they kept working. They made sure ev...
John Kurdzionak
Accreditation
Window World is backed by these leading industry experts.
  • BBB
  • Boston Red Sox
  • Saint Jude
  • Window Word Cares
  • Veterans Airlift Command
  • nrca
OC Platinum Preferred Roofing Contractor