A CLEAR VIEW TO SAVINGS AND STYLE
Feature Story
Save money. Improve energy efficiency. Update the look of your home. Experts agree that new windows are one the best investments one can make on their home.
New windows not only look great, but can also be designed to block the harmful spectrum of the sun’s rays. Known as LowE, the coating effectively blocks ultraviolet and infrared rays while permitting visible light to pass through.
“Low-E coatings have been developed to minimize the amount of ultraviolet and infrared light that can pass through glass without compromising the amount of visible light that is transmitted,” according to the website vitroglazing.com.
“When heat or light energy is absorbed by glass, it is either shifted away by moving air or re-radiated by the glass surface,” the site said. “The ability of a material to radiate energy is known as emissivity. In general, highly reflective materials have a low emissivity and dull, darker colored materials have a high emissivity. Radiant energy is one of the important ways heat transfer occurs with windows. Reducing the emissivity of one or more of the window glass surfaces improves a window's insulating properties.”
In essence, what it does is create “a more comfortable environment for the home owner,” said Jim Zunno, general sales manager for DreamStyle Remodeling, which is the exclusive local dealer for Renewal by Anderson windows. “What Low-E does for you on glass, it reflects the heat toward its source. So in the summer when it’s hot outside, it reflects back outward and in the winter, when it’s warm inside, it reflects back inside.”
Double-paned windows are further enhanced when filled by a gas, usually inert argon, which increases the energy efficiency, explained Norman Harty, Window World window expert.
The difference can be as much as 20to 24-degrees in the heat index, he said, which makes a big difference when trying to heat or cool a room.
Furthermore, blocking the UV light helps protect the furniture, walls and drapes from fading under the duress of the harmful rays.
The bottom line is that new windows are the type of home-improvement project that can pay off rather quickly, Harty said.
Depending on factors like insulation, particularly in the ceiling, and the quality of construction, the savings could amount to 25 to 35 percent, Harty said, citing a federal government study.
“So if your energy bill was $100, drop it down to $65 or $75,” he said. “That is just an estimate, but it will definitely save money and pay for itself over time.”
There are many good reasons to replace older windows, especially if they are single pane, Harty said.
“The cool thing about windows is it’s one of those home improvements that adds value to your house. Twenty years ago in real estate, they said it added 5 percent to the value of your home. It also beautifies your home and the neighborhood.”
As a matter of fact, Harty said, windows is one of the first things house flippers do when taking over a home intended for a fast sale. “It quickly shows that there was home improvement,” he said.
A big key to putting in new windows, however, is to make sure it gets done correctly, Zunno said.
“When people decide to replace windows, it’s important to solve the problem that the old windows created,” he said. “And there can be a wide range of problems with inefficient windows.”
One of the problems, particularly here in New Mexico, is that of leakage, Zunno said.
“Most people look through the windows and but not at them,” he said. “Excessive sand and dirt on and below windows could signal a leakage problem. For many folks, that’s a primary consideration, perhaps even before the energy savings,” Zunno said.
Another critical factor when looking into buying new windows is getting proper cladding surrounding the windows.
“Wood windows are very high maintenance and are very expensive,” Harty said. “They look cool, but wood is a very poor conductor. Even if the wood is clad in another material, they are very high maintenance.”
Composite frames that look like vinyl are better, but if they are reprocessed, they tend to break down, as well, he said.
The best deal, in terms of affordability, life expectancy and performance are vinyl windows that have been treated with titanium dioxide.
“Pure virgin vinyl that is treated with titanium dioxide, keeps windows from discoloring, fading, chipping or peeling, and is a super good mid-priced product,” Harty said. “It’s probably the best deal.”
Nevertheless, replacing windows can be a costly endeavor, costing upwards of $700 each, he said.
So what should buyers on a budget look for? “If you can get an American Architect Manufacturers Association Standards window for under $700, you’re doing well,” he said.