Replacing the windows in your home offers many benefits, including increasing your home's market value and improving its energy efficiency. In addition, new windows can dramatically improve the look of your home. But with all of the options in styles and materials, selecting the right window is a major decision. Be sure to consider all of the alternatives before you make your final selection.
One of the features of replacement windows that make a big difference in the window's performance, as well as its cost, is the type of glass used within the window. It used to be that glass windows were glass windows, and these single-pane clear glass windows were the only choice. In current times, however, technological advances in window glass have led to many improvements in window performance.
Heat-absorbing windows contain a special tinted glazing that changes color to absorb the solar radiation as it comes through the window. More specifically, heat-absorbing glass reduces the window's solar heat gain coefficient, with the result that less heat passes through the window. Some heat-absorbing glass also reduces the penetration of light through the window in addition to absorbing much of the heat.
Low-emission (Low-E) glass windows offer improved insulating properties; a very thin layer of metal or metal oxide restricts the radiative heat flow through the glass. The Low-E coating helps to reflect the sun's heat during the hot summer months, but traps the warmth that enters during the colder winter months. The most effective Low-E window coatings can result in a savings of up to 30% of the home's utility costs.
Reflective glass windows contain a very thin metallic coating that reduces the visible transmittance and glare through the window. While reflective glass blocks small amounts of the sun's heat, it is more commonly used to reduce the amount of light that enters a home through the windows. Reflective window coatings come in a range of metallic colors which include silver, bronze, gold, and blue, so the color of the window can complement the home's exterior color scheme.
Before you select the type of glass for your new replacement windows, consider the exposure of the windows in the various rooms within your home. Pay particular attention to the south- and west-facing windows, as these exposures typically receive stronger sunlight than other directions. For north-facing windows, you may want to choose windows with minimal glass coating, as the sun's rays from the north are not as pronounced.