 Once
Duramade Windows & Doors installs your new
vinyl windows, you will notice an immediate savings
on your electricity bill. You may be pleasantly
surprised to learn that many customers in hot
climates from Tampa to Jacksonville and Clearwater
to Miami have said their power bills were cut
in half after Duramade installed their new vinyl
windows.
Florida homeowners typically
see the greatest savings when they replace old
single-pane windows with Energy Star approved
vinyl windows, which typically have 2-3 panes
of glass. In addition to the number of glass panes
in a vinyl window, there are several other features
that make window
replacements more energy efficient, such as:
- Argon or krypton gas in
between panes of glass
- Weather stripping
- Low emissivity (Low-E) coating
on the glass that reflects heat energy
- Welding of the vinyl frames
and sashes
- Some Gorell window models
include three panes of glass—two of which are
sandwiched with a tough polyvinyl butyral interlayer—creating
a glass system that blocks heat, radiation,
intruders, harsh weather, and more
The energy efficiency of vinyl
windows are measured according to the U factor
and the SHGC (solar heat gain coefficient) of
the vinyl window. The U factor (or U value) of
vinyl windows speaks to the window’s resistance
to heat flow. The lower the U factor on your vinyl
replacement window, the better the window
resists heat flow. U factor is helpful whether
you want to keep heat outside your home (in the
summer) or keep heat inside your home (in the
winter). To qualify for the 2009-2010 energy efficiency
tax credit, select vinyl windows with a U factor
of 0.30 or less.
The SHGC, or solar heat gain
coefficient, of vinyl windows measures the solar
radiation that is emitted through a vinyl window.
A lower SHGC number means less radiation is passing
through the window. SHGC is most important in
southern, hot weather climates like Florida. To
qualify for the 2009-2010 energy efficiency tax
credit, select vinyl windows with a SHGC of 0.30
or less.
Whether you need vinyl windows
in Melbourne, Sarasota, Naples, Lakeland, or anywhere
else in Florida, contact
Duramade Windows & Doors today to get in touch
with a professional estimator.
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