Saving Money Through Your Windows And Doors

Winters in Virginia aren’t as frigid as, say, our neighbours in New York. But it certainly does get significantly cooler than what we are accustomed to. At the height of the winter season, temperatures can regularly dip to the low 20s, meaning you’re likely to forgo lounging on your porch in favour of snuggling up on your couch. With this in mind, consistently keeping your home warm and properly heated is an absolute priority. Even with the right electric heaters, you could still be stuck shivering in your home and wondering why you’re still so cold. 

The answer: your windows and doors.

Everyone knows windows and doors can make or break the look of your home, but your windows and doors are important for so much more than aesthetics. 40% of a home’s annual energy budget is used on heating, and the quality of your windows and doors can affect just how high this energy budget is. 

Energy-efficient windows use different kinds of technology to trap heat in your home. Advances in this field in the last 25 years mean that these kinds of windows are now four times better at insulating against the cold weather.

Here are just a few examples of the technology.

Low-Emissivity Glass

This type of glass has an extremely thin coating which works to reduce the harmful UV  and infrared rays that might go through the glass and into your home. The coating also works to reflect heat during warm months and trap heat during the colder periods.

Triple Paned Glass

This kind of glass is, as its name infers, triple-paned. These kinds of windows are resistant to condensation, which is good news if you’re trying to reduce the relative humidity in your home and trap more heat during the colder months. 

Spacers

Spacers refer to the material that separates panes of glass in multi-pane windows. As most windows in temperate areas are at least double-paned, chances are you have spacers as well. Spacers are important because they allow the window to expand or contract depending on the temperature. They also keep moisture out of your home. Energy-efficient windows often use materials like stainless steel or metal alloys to reduce condensation and heat transfer. 

Energy-efficient doors also use different kinds of technology to trap heat. Sliding glass doors might use low-emissivity glass technology or triple-paned glass like we mentioned above. Other factors are the insulation core, the weatherstripping and, of course, the material used for the door itself.

If you’re unsure of if your windows and doors are energy efficient, just look up the ENERGY STAR rating online. All products on the website are independently certified so you know you’re getting the right information.

But why is this energy-efficient technology such a big deal? Because windows and doors are a big deal. Replacing your windows and doors should not be a yearly ordeal. You want to use a material that will hold up for decades and will keep the cold elements out no matter how bad the winter gets. Using your single-paned windows and cranking up the heat will only hurt your bottom line in the end. And with increasingly unstable weather, you want windows and doors that will reduce your energy budget, no matter the temperature.

With so many families deciding to switch to energy-efficient windows and doors, there are several manufacturers who may claim their products have this technology when they, in fact, don’t. There is also an overwhelming amount of research to do as well as the task of finding qualified and approachable experts. If it sounds like a lot, that’s because it can be if you try to do this all by yourself.

At Smart Home Improvement, we have made energy efficiency the foundation of all we do. We have been in this business from before it was a trend, meaning we are certainly qualified to set you up with some new windows and doors.

Get in touch and leave the research and installation to us. Your lower energy bill is only a phone call away!