There are countless reasons to seek energy efficient solutions in your home and to keep it operating as you like. It’s smart to set things up in your home in a way that doesn’t use more energy than is truly necessary as this will not only minimize energy waste, but it will also save you money on your electric bill.
Today, it is becoming increasingly common for home improvement efforts to include steps to making a home use less energy, and to utilize the energy that a home does consume more effectively. Thus, there are a lot of aspects of your home that have energy efficient alternatives, and more and more options are being presented to the market with each passing day. When it comes to facets of your home that can be made to use energy more efficiently, the windows in your home are no exception. Did you know that the simple act of switching out your windows with high-quality replacements can be all it takes to significantly increase the energy efficiency of your home overall?
Replacing old and leaky windows high-quality, energy-efficient alternatives is a great decision for any homeowner to make for many reasons. For one thing, window replacement, in general, increases the value of your home and is an excellent way to upgrade your house’s aesthetic appearance and overall functionality. Windows show off the beautiful view you have outside of your home, and they light up your home with natural light. Depending on the style of your windows, they may even be a decorative addition to your home in and of themselves. At the end of the day, windows are extremely important to your home—but if they are the wrong kind of windows, they might be doing more harm than good.
Aside from looking beautiful and decorating your home, energy efficient windows help to lower your carbon footprint. Using them is much better for the environment, as it requires you to use less energy to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. In addition, going hand in hand with using less energy, eco-friendly windows help to save money. Because you won’t be using nearly as much energy to cool down your house in the hot summer months or to heat it during frigid winters, your energy bills will be significantly lower month after month.
Everybody likes to have a break here and there, and your air conditioner and heater in your home are no exceptions. With energy efficient windows, you can achieve more comfortable temperatures in your home without your AC and heater needing to work around the clock. By keeping the air inside securely sealed there, and not letting the uncomfortable temperatures from outside seep into your home, energy efficient windows go the extra mile to keeping your home beautiful and comfortable without ringing up an expensive energy bill in the process.
There are many factors that go into making windows energy efficient and the more of these factors that are designed in your favor, the more benefit you will get out of your eco-friendly windows. Believe it or not, what may be considered an energy efficient window in your home might not be in another person’s home across the country. That’s because the specific factors that contribute to energy efficiency in your home have a lot to do with the climate.
Some of the things you need to understand when trying to learn how energy efficient windows work include the U factor, and the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC). The U factor refers to how well the windows are designed to keep heat sealed inside your home. A lower number means your window has more resistance to heat loss and is, therefore, ideal for a colder climate.
SHGC, on the other hand, refers to how well your windows keeps heat outside. A lower number means your window lets in less heat, meaning it is ideal for a warmer climate. However, if you are in a colder climate, this might not be the most energy efficient option for you, as your windows allowing heat in will help to reduce the amount of energy you use to keep your home comfortable.
Another factor to consider is air leakage. If your windows are not tightly sealed, whether due to poor manufacturing, improper installation, or even the simple passage of time, then you will likely find yourself dissatisfied with the results of your windows’ energy efficiency. Even the most professionally constructed and installed windows will become leaky over time. This is a natural process, but allowing temperatures from outside to seep into your home, or your comfortable air to escape into the outdoors, will reveal itself on your energy bill and in the level of comfort you experience in your home.
Windows are rated on their energy efficiency by certification programs such as Energy Star and the National Fenestration Rating Council. These ratings can be found on a label that exists on every window, and they provide performance ratings such as the U factor and SHGC. With these, you will have everything you need to ask yourself if your current windows are the best for the climate you are living in. In addition, you might want to evaluate how old your current windows are. Are they becoming leaky? Are they starting to look worn out and not as bright and up for the task as they once were? This is something that naturally happens with time, and it’s a sign that it’s time to have them replaced with more trustworthy and reliable alternatives.
Now that you have all the information as to how energy efficient windows work, it should be easy to assess the efficiency of your current windows. If their energy efficiency rating is substandard, it may be time to consider a window replacement to start reaping the benefits of having a brand-new upgrade with eco-friendly windows. In addition, other tell-tale signs that it’s time to replace your windows include rising energy costs, your air conditioner or heater constantly working to keep your home comfortable, or if you find yourself constantly pulling the shades to stop the heat from getting in.
After looking at your current windows, if you have decided that window replacement is the best choice for you and will provide you with advantages in your home, then your next step is to consider your replacement options.
At Marvin Windows and Doors by CMC, we offer two different incredible lines of windows for you to make your selection from, both of which provide exemplary performance in the way of energy efficiency. We supply our clients only with window and patio door replacements from Marvin Windows and Doors, as they are the only company we trust to uphold the high standards we have come to expect for our clients.
All of Marvin’s products are custom made to order, with each order being fulfilled individually. To us, this provides assurance that the projects of each of our clients are getting the attention it deserves to turn out flawlessly.
At Marvin Windows and Doors by CMC, we understand that your windows are an important aesthetic aspect of your home, which is why we want to make sure you have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to deciding on the right design and style for your replacement windows. We strive to ensure that every new window we install in your home is an incredible upgrade that increases the appeal and comfort of your home.
Without further ado, here are the two Marvin lines we offer:
Marvin’s standard brand offers everything you need from your replacement windows to give your home the upgrade it deserves. In their stunning selection of windows and patio doors, Marvin strives to provide customers with long-term energy management solutions without sacrificing beauty in the process. The Marvin line features many products that qualify for the Energy Star Most Efficient rating, which gives homeowners the opportunity to select from a wide range of breathtaking designs that will also improve their home’s performance.
The Integrity from Marvin line is made using Ultrex Fiberglass, a superior material that has proven time and time again to be the ultimate choice for both windows and patio doors. In addition to the line’s unquestionably high-quality craftsmanship, Integrity is held to exceptionally high energy efficiency standards. The low conductivity incredible performance capabilities of Ultrex is paired with energy-efficient glazes in this line to result in Energy Star qualified solutions.
The sooner you get your energy efficient replacement windows installed in your home, the sooner you can start reaping the incredible benefits. To take the first step of beginning the process, get in touch with us at Marvin Windows and Doors by CMC to set up your free window and patio door consultation today!
