There is a special organization known as the National Fenestration Rating Council or “NFRC”, for short. This organization is a non-profit that specializes in creating energy performance ratings for windows, skylights, and doors. Information is then placed on a NFRC label on the corresponding products.
When you purchase windows, you should pay special attention to the performance ratings that are listed, in numerous categories. This organization has concluded that homeowners spend up to $2,500 a year on their energy costs.
Approximately 45% stems from the cooling and heating of the home. By learning about and paying attention to the window performance categories, you can save yourself a lot of money each year in energy expenses.
The U-Factor
This particular performance category outlines how well the replacement window can prevent heat from actively escaping from a room. If the number is low, this indicates that it is very capable of preventing heat from escaping. If the number is high, the window is not very effective at preventing heat loss.
These numbers range from as low as 0.20 to as high as 1.20. The goal is to only choose those windows that have a very low number.
The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient
This performance category for windows measures how well the product is capable of resisting heat gain that is unwanted. This is very important in areas that have very warm summers.
If the number is low, it means that you will not spend as much on cooling your home. The higher the number, the more money you will spend on air conditioning. The range of these numbers starts at 0 and goes up to 1. It is always best to choose a window with a solar heat gain coefficient of 0 rather than 1.
The Visible Transmittance
When purchasing replacement windows, it is imperative that you pay close attention to this performance rating. It measures how well the window is at lighting the interior of your home with natural lighting. This will help you avoid high costs by purchasing and running artificial lighting.
The range of the numbers is as low as 0 and as high as 1. In this category, you will want to choose windows that have a high number. This means that higher levels of natural light will be allowed into the interior regions of your home.
The Air Leakage
The final performance rating category is the air leakage. This reflects how much air is allowed inside of the room through the window. The numbers are < 0.3. You will want to choose a product that has a very low number. The lower the number, the fewer drafts will make their way into your home.
The Condensation Rating
There is an optional condensation rating that may be placed on a window by the manufacturer. If the number is high, it indicates that it is better able to resist condensation.
High-Quality Replacement Windows
If you are in search of high-quality replacement windows, you will love the vast selection that we offer here at 316 Direct Wholesale. In addition to windows, we also offer a variety of replacement interior and exterior doors for residential structures. If you would like to learn more or would like to set up an appointment, you may contact us today by calling: 316-201-9436