ENERGY SAVINGS - REPLACEMENT WINDOWS - TAX REBATES - DALLAS/FORT WORTH METROPLEX

Windows can be one of your home's most attractive features. Windows provide views, day lighting, ventilation, and solar heating in the winter. Unfortunately, they can also account for 10% to 25% of your heating bill. During the summer, your air conditioner must work harder to cool hot air from sunny windows. Install ENERGY STAR windows and use curtains and shade to give your air conditioner and energy bill a break. Many of the windows we supply can cut the cooling load by 10% to 15%.

If your home has single-pane windows, as almost half of U.S. homes do, consider replacing them. New double pane windows with high-performance glass are available from Brennan Enterprises. If you are building a new home, you can offset some of the cost of installing more efficient windows because doing so allows you to buy smaller, less expensive heating and cooling equipment.

Remember that new windows must be installed correctly to avoid air leaks around the frame. Look for a reputable, qualified installer.

HOW DO NEW WINDOWS SAVE ENERGY?

Whether replacing windows in an older house or choosing windows for a new house, your decisions on what type of windows to buy will be among the most important decisions you will make in terms of energy savings. Because of the impact windows have on both heat loss and heat gain, proper selection of products can be confusing. To add to the complexity, window glazing technology has changed tremendously in recent years. The best window glazings today insulate almost four times as well as the best commonly available windows from twenty years ago.

Window technology has improved dramatically in recent years, with the net result of lowering your energy bills. Some of the most important energy features of windows are explained below.

Multiple layers of glazing.

Until the 1980s the primary way manufacturers improved the energy performance of windows was to add additional layers of glazing. Double glazing insulates almost twice as well as single glazing. Adding a third or fourth layer of glazing results in further improvement. Some of these windows use glass only; others use thin plastic films as the inner glazing layer(s).

Thickness of air space.

With double-glazed windows the air space between the panes of glass has a big effect on energy performance. A very thin air space does not insulate as well as a thicker air space because of the conductivity through that small space. Many window manufacturers have increased the thickness of the air space in their double-glazed windows from ¼" to ½" or more. If the air space is too wide, however, convection loops between the layers of glazing occur. Beyond about 1", you do not get any further gain in energy performance with thicker air spaces.

Low-conductivity gas fill.

By substituting a denser, lower conductivity gas such as argon for the air in a sealed insulated glass window, heat loss can be reduced significantly. Most major window manufacturers offer argon-gas fill as an option in their most popular windows.

Tinted glass coatings.

Tinted glass and tinted window films have long been used in commercial buildings to reduce heat gain through windows. Improved, lightly tinted windows are becoming more common for the residential market in Texas. These new glazings reduce the solar heat gain without reducing visibility as much as older tinted glass and films.

Low-e coatings.

More than any other single improvement, the invention and commercial development of low-emissivity (low-e) coatings in the 1980s revolutionized window technology. Thin, transparent coatings of silver or tin oxide permit visible light to pass through, but they effectively reflect infrared heat radiation back into the room. This reduces heat loss through the windows in the winter.

Edge spacers.

The edge spacer is what holds the panes of glass apart and provides the airtight seal in an insulated glass window. Traditionally, these have been hollow aluminum channels, usually filled with desiccant beads. Aluminum has extremely high conductivity. That didn’t matter when the glazing did not insulate very well, but as better performing glazings were developed, proportionately more heat was lost through the edges. Since about 1990, a number of improved edge spacers have come onto the market. Some are made of thin-walled steel and have a thermal break. Others are made of silicone foam or butyl rubber. Generally, better edge seals are a low-cost option when ordering windows, and worth considering.

Many local utilities provide financial incentives for purchasing ENERGY STAR qualified windows, doors, and skylights. To find out if rebates or other incentives are available in your area, visit the ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder.

Federal Tax Credits

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 allows consumers to receive a federal tax credit for making energy efficient improvements on their home, including installing ENERGY STAR qualified windows, doors, and skylights.