A High Priced Window Doesn’t Guarantee Energy-Efficiency

It’s like buying a brand name shirt. It might cost $100 at Macy's, yet the exact same shirt sells for half the price at Marshall's. A higher price didn’t make one shirt better, it only means the seller found someone in the market willing to pay the higher price. Don’t assume a high price gives you more; compare the energy-efficiency ratings, then compare which window brand gives you the most for the dollar.

Don’t over-pay for performance. A $350K Lamborghini buys increased performance, but at what cost? More people own the Honda Accord because it offers significant performance for a more practical price. Use the same logic when shopping for replacement windows. Look for a window that will provide significant energy savings without paying thousands more for an insignificant increase in performance.

Many window brands try to talk people into a "Lamborghini", but if you spend $20,000 or more on windows it will take decades to reach the break-even point through fuel savings. Our Energy Star® window has a U-Factor of 0.30, with an avg project price under $4,000, This means our windows will pay for themselves in 5-to-7 years. We sell "The Honda Accord"; significant performance at a good price; a better value.

Look for the Energy Star® Label

ENERGY STAR® is a U.S. government program managed by the Dept of Energy. Over the past 10 years ENERGY STAR® guidelines have helped double the efficiency of windows they endorse. To qualify for ENERGY STAR® certification window brands must meet strict energy-efficiency standards. Gorell Windows, our manufacturing partner, has received the ENERGY STAR® Sustained Excellence Award for 6 consecutive years, and all Rite Window products carry the ENERGY STAR® label.

Look for the U-Factor Insulation Rating

The U-Factor rating shows how well a window product prevents heat from escaping. The lower the U-Factor number the better its resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating properties. U-Factor ratings generally fall anywhere between 0.20 and 1.20. (lower the better)

As shown by the chart, the type of materials used in window construction can effect the U-Factor rating, and a significant improvement in U-Factor values is seen with windows using Low-E coated glass.

Since January of 2010, all ENERGY STAR® qualified windows must have a U-Factor rating equal to or less than 0.30. This is the same rating needed for the window to qualify for the federal energy tax credit.

Look for the NFRC Label

NFRC stands for the National Fenestration Rating Council; (The word fenestration has roots in the Latin word for window, fenestra. Fenestration defines any object that fills an opening in a building, such as windows, doors, skylights, etc.)

The National Fenestration Rating Council partners with the U.S. Dept of Energy to help consumers compare the energy-efficiency of window products. Manufacturers participating in their program are required to label every window with its thermal performance and U-Factor rating. Rite Window is a participant in the NFRC program.

The NFRC label to the right shows the two most important ratings in determining energy efficiency, the U-Factor, and the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, (SHGC). Solar Heat Gain is a measure of the interior heat generated by sunlight through the window. For New England climates the SHGC is a trade-off. A higher SHGC rating means more heat from sunlight keeping the house warm in the winter, but also less efficient cooling in the summer.

Look for Low-E Coated Glass

Low-E is short for low-emissivity. It’s a very thin coat of material on the glass that reflects heat and ultraviolet radiation. Low-E coatings have been in use since 1979. Todays Low-E coatings improve the energy-efficiency of clear glass by 30%. The huge benefit of Low-E versus the small additional cost makes installing new windows without Low-E unwise, therefore all our windows have a Low-E coating.

Look for Argon or Krypton Gas Fill

Window thermal performance is improved by adding argon or krypton gas between the panes. Argon and krypton gas minimizes the convection currents within the space, and the overall transfer of heat between the inside and outside is reduced. Rite Window uses an argon fill. The gas is nontoxic, nonreactive, clear, odorless, and improves the performance of our window by 20-to-30%.

Beware of Misleading Sales Practices

The U-Factor Rating Must Reflect the Whole Window

Be sure the U-Factors you’re comparing are "whole window" values. Energy Star requires heat transfer measurements be taken at 20 places on the window frame and glass, (as shown to the left). Some manufacturers report a "center-of-glass" value only, making their window appear more energy-efficient than it actually is. If the U-Factor seems suspiciously low, ask them to prove it’s a "whole window" rating.

R-Values are Not Recognized for Windows

R-Values are appropriate for wall insulation and roofing, but not for windows. Most consumers are aware that higher R-Values signify better insulating properties, but an R-Value can only be used to measure the window’s center-of-glass, not the entire window unit; therefore it is a rating method not accepted by the NFRC or the Energy Star® program.

Not All Homeowners Need a Triple-Pane Window

Rite Window offers a high performance triple-pane window, but we don't force it on our customers. If a triple-pane would better fit your needs we present it as an option. Many of our competitors use a different sales method; they push their triple-pane window as the only worthwhile option. The reason is, they're better able to inflate the price to make far more profit.

Yes, triple-pane is more energy-efficient. But it also comes with a higher up-front cost. If you have a large home with huge fuel bills, or live in the coldest regions of New England, the added cost will pay slightly more of a dividend. As with any purchase, the consumer needs to weigh the cost versus the benefit.

Triple-pane "only" companies want homeowners to think a double-glazed window is hugely inferior, but in fact today's double-glazed is extremely more efficient than any window manufactured 15 years ago, and for homeowners looking to maximize their budget it's a cost-effective choice. Either way, Rite Window sells both the double and triple-pane, and allows you to make the choice.