Beautify your home and save on energy costs.

A little bit of knowledge may indeed be dangerous but will certainly be very helpful when choosing new windows for your home. If correctly selected and installed, replacement windows can reduce your energy bills.

While the potential for energy conservation through windows and doors has been addressed by manufacturers since the early 1970’s with the advent of insulated glass, it wasn’t until the early 1990’s that the industry came together with federal and state governing bodies to develop a rating system for thermal performance.

The goal is to arm the consumer, whether building professional or homeowner, with a means to make a comparative evaluation of windows and doors based on a set of established criteria and backed by accredited scientific test methods.

Armed with this information you can begin to evaluate the various products competing for your home improvement dollar.

To that end the National Fenestration Rating Council was formed, and manufacturers began to certify their products. Although these products had long been subjected to testing for air infiltration, water infiltration, structural strength and forced entry resistance, it was the growing focus on energy that was recognized as the qualification now most relevant to consumers. With that in mind, it is now possible to compare products from various manufacturers on a level playing field.

After all, heat is the tangible manifestation of energy. In our homes we find that achieving a comfortable living environment revolves around heat control and either adding or removing heat through radiant or forced air equipment and the electricity, natural gas, coal or propane we consume to accomplish this is the target for reducing energy consumption. So it makes sense when we look at how windows and doors can help reduce energy consumption we look at their ability to pass or conduct heat.

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