Windows are rated in various categories which establish their energy efficiency. If you are shopping for windows for your home, more emphasis should be placed on varying ratings based on where the home is located in. For instance, if you are shopping for replacement windows in Phoenix, Arizona, a sunny and warm climate, the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient is probably the most essential rating to take into account. Other elements, such as the orientation of a window to the sun and the amount of shade that is present need to be considered.

The U.S. Government's Energy Star program is designed to make it easy for individuals to identify energy efficient products and practices which will save them money and preserve the environment. The Energy Star program incorporates over sixty products, including windows. Energy Star certification makes it very simple for consumers to ensure they are getting energy efficient replacement windows.

All Energy Star replacement windows are rated in five categories but Energy Star qualification is solely based on the U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. These ratings are also the categories utilized to determine if a window qualifies for the IRS Energy Tax Credit.

U-Factor
Measures the rate of heat transfer and indicates how efficiently a window insulates. The smaller the U-Factor rating, the more effectively a window insulates. The window U-Factor includes the thermal attributes of the frame in addition to the glazing.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
Measures the solar energy transmitted by the window and indicates how well a window blocks heat caused by the sun's energy. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat a window transmits.

Visable Transmittance (VT)
Calculates the amount of light a window permits through. The greater the Visable Transmittance, the more light you see.

Air Leakage (AL)
Measures the rate at which air passes through joints in a window. Air Leakage is determined in cubic feet of air that passes through one square foot of window area in a minute. The smaller the Air Leakage value, the less air leakage.

Condensation Resistance
Measures how well a window resists water build-up. The higher the Condensation Resistance factor, the less condensation build-up a window permits.

Other Replacement Window Ratings
There are some additional ratings which are not presented on the NFRC Energy Star label but they are helpful and appear on some windows.

Light to Solar Gain
The ratio of Visable Transmittance to Solar Heat Gain Coefficient calculates the amount of light transmitted without adding heat. A greater number indicates that more light is transmitted without adding heat.

R-Value
R-Value was created as a way to rate the insulation value of something. It measures conductivity and tells us the resistance to heat flow. A high R-Value implies a better insulated window. The majority windows today are measured using U-Factor (see above).

Energy Efficient Window Ratings
Windows are rated in various categories which determine their energy efficiency. If you are choosing windows for your home, greater emphasis should be placed on different ratings based on the climate the home is located in.

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