Our environment has long been battling tremendous destructive challenges. The thinning of the ozone layer, the ever-increasing percentage of carbon dioxide, and global warming. However, amidst this scary news, according to NASA, the Earth is greener today than it was 20 years ago.
What prompted the change?
It's all thanks to the effort of two giant countries' contributions, China and India, in their massive tree planting activities and upgrading their agricultural technologies.
But what's even more surprising is the growing number of consumers buying and using sustainable and eco-friendly materials. Many homeowners are now transitioning to using more green products in their housing restoration and renovation. Before, using sustainable materials is hard-reached, but now even windows are going green, and you can start installing energy-efficient windows to your houses.
Green Windows Specifications
Before we jump into its benefits, let us learn more about the specifications of the green windows and its guiding principles in choosing quality efficient windows.
U-Factor (U-Value)
This measures the heat transfer rate through a product, such as windows, and measures how much heat is conducted. The principle is simple: the lower the U-factor rating, the better insulation it provides, making it more energy-efficient.
When looking for replacement windows, look for a U-factor rating of 0.30 or below. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends looking for windows with U-factor between 0.25 - 1.25, but for better efficiency, choose the ones below 0.5.
You can ask for professional help in seeking and installing green windows with a lower U-factor. Professionals at Local Columbus Roofer can provide you assistance, from the selection process up to the installation. They can also give recommendations and other assistance relating to transitioning your home to a more greener building.
Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC)
SHGC, in its simplest terms, is the amount of solar heat energy that gets through a window. The SHGC has a lot to do in controlling the climate inside your home. For colder climates, windows with high SHGC value are needed (>0.55), while for warmer climates, a lower SHGC value is required (<0.40). There's a lesser solar heat transfer and better shading ability for windows that do have lower SHGC value.
Low-emissivity (Low-E) glazes or glazing
One of the best factors to look for installing green windows is the glazing. Did you know that the extreme heat that passes through your windows has a lot to do with your fading wall paints, damages on your wood furnishings, and fading fabrics?
But with glazes, it blocks the longer wavelengths of energy while still allowing shorter wavelengths (visible light) to pass through. Glazes are made of transparent metal-oxide insulators that can be added to one of the two inter-pane surfaces.
Fact: Hate that condensation inside your windows? Glazing your windows can help resolve that problem.
Green Windows Primary Benefits
Now that we have tackled the significant specifications of green windows, let's move onto the primary benefits that we can take advantage of.
Environmental Effects
The most significant contribution to having green windows is it's a great aid in improving the overall environmental condition. For many consumers, paying for electricity is a responsibility, and a lower expense made in paying it saves them a lot of money. But for the environment, lower energy consumption means less energy generated to power up any appliances that require electricity to flow.
Having green windows, you'll initially set up your entire house with a better heating and ventilation system. Green windows are best in providing sufficient insulation. Because of these, you'll reduce the usage of fossil fuels generated by power plants to power up air-conditioning units at home.
Long-Term Savings
Green windows installation is indeed initially expensive. However, your energy cost expenses before the transition will turn into savings in the long run. Because of the green windows' better insulation, there will be less air-conditioning usage, which is the primary reason for the energy consumption spike.
Moreover, some municipalities provide a significant tax credit to homeowners who upgraded their houses to have an energy-efficient window. You may not be aware of this, but if you are interested in proceeding with the transition, ask your local municipality regarding tax credit for homeowners with energy-efficient windows.
Home Comfort
Every homeowner dreams of having a comfortable home to spend and make memories with their families. With green windows, residents will feel more comfortable inside because of the better air quality.
The airtightness prevents air leakage, thus improving the temperature inside your home. Houses with green windows do have exceptional indoor air quality, and that's the other reason that convinces many homeowners to upgrade their traditional windows to green windows.
Green Windows Selection Process
Suppose you are interested to finally transition your house to a greener building by replacing your windows with green ones. In that case, you need to check this selection process and other factors that you should consider.
Money
You need to invest a lot of money in having green windows upfront. Your budget will depend on the size, the quality, materials to be used, and the number of windows you want to be done. Ask for a professional to help you out on this one.
Labels And Certification
Always look for ENERGY STAR certification when buying new windows and perform a quality check with the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) to see its NFRC ratings regarding its energy performance. All ENERGY STAR certified green windows do have an NFRC rating included. This will help you determine a window's energy properties and compare products simultaneously.
Takeaway
Global warming is rapidly increasing, but some ways can slow down its progress, and one of them is utilizing green windows at home. There will be less energy consumption by installing green windows, thus lowering the cost of power plants to burn fossil fuels.
Also, it doesn't only benefit the environment, but you as well. Lower energy consumption means lower electricity expenses plus better indoor air quality to enjoy. Having green windows is a small step, but it offers a lot of contribution to the environment, and every consumer and homeowner should know this.
Author's Bio
Daniel Blake juggles his time working as a freelance writer and studying as a design student. His writing career is evident in many published articles on various websites and magazines. His forte lies in real estate, design, and tech. Daniel is also a confessed bookworm who binges on reading thrillers whenever his time permits.
