Replacement Windows Label Explained

Replacement windows come with labels that indicate their energy efficiency; however, many people are unsure what these labels mean; homeowners should take the time to learn how to read these labels in order to get the best windows for their house

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ReplacementWindows.net

Sep 30, 2010, 07:55 ET

CHICAGO, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- As people become more concerned with the environment and the high cost of energy, many are choosing more energy-efficient products when they update their homes. There is no exception when homeowners are choosing replacement windows. The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) has designed energy-performance labels to guide contractors and homeowners; however, these labels and codes can be confusing. To ensure the right replacement windows are purchased to keep energy costs lower, people need to know what the labels mean. ReplacementWindows.net offers an explanation of these labels to better inform consumers.

The NFRC is a non-profit organization that is a leader in the energy-performance rating and certification programs for window products. A homeowner and window replacement contractor can find the organization's label which can be found on the upper left corner of replacement windows showing that the manufacturer has been certified and the performance of the window is in accordance with NFRC standards. The label in the upper right corner displays the manufacturer, model, style and materials used during construction.

When homeowners and contractors are considering replacement windows reviews, and are looking at energy-performance ratings, they can look for the U-factor. The U-factor indicates the rate of heat loss from a building and usually falls between 0.20 and 1.20. The lower the U-value, the greater the resistance the replacement window has to heat flow and the better the insulating value. The R-value, which is the inverse of the U-value, indicates the windows insulating value.

For homes in warm climates, the owners will need to pay attention to the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) number. This indicates how well the replacement window blocks heat from the sun. The SHGC is the fraction of incident solar radiation admitted through a product, absorbed and then released in to the home. SHGC numbers are expressed between 0 and 1. Homeowners will want the lowest number possible, because the lower the number, the less solar heat the window transmits. Additionally, homeowners will want to note the visible transmittance (VT), which indicates the amount of visible light that can be transmitted through a window and is expressed between 0 and 1. The higher the VT, the higher the amount of natural light will be let into the home.

Homeowners should also note condensation resistance (CR), which is listed between 0 and 100, and air leakage (AL), which is measured in cfm/sq ft. Heat loss and gain occur by air flowing through cracks produced during the replacement window assembly. The lower the AL, the less air will pass. CR measures the ability of a product to resist interior surface condensation. The higher the CR rating, the more effective the window can resist the formation of condensation.

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