Many people are looking for ways to save money these days
. Your family may be eating out a little less or vacationing a little closer to home, but one of the easiest ways to cut your expenses might be right there at your house, and it doesn't require much of a family sacrifice to do it. Energy costs are gradually rising each year, and if your windows are over ten years old, they may be allowing your hard earned dollars to flutter away every day.
Energy Costs and Your Windows
One of the great advancements in energy saving technology was the invention of the thermal window. Windows in old houses often consisted of a single pane of glass that didn't do much other than keep bugs and rain out of the house, and you could watch the drapes move on a windy day. A thermal window has two or three panes of glass providing a thermal break from the outside weather and are rated in energy efficiency categories such as:
U-Factor. The U-Factor is a measurement of the amount of heat allowed to escape through a window unit in an hour. Thermal windows with multiple panes of glass and options such as Argon gas between the panes achieve the best ratings in this category.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). The SHGC is a measurement of the amount of radiant heat from the sun that is allowed through the window unit. Technologies such as Low-E glass coatings help reflect the sun's heat off the window.
Energy Star Rating. Thermal panes that earn the coveted Energy Star rating awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are considered the ultimate in energy efficiency and may qualify you for a federal tax credit.
Switching to thermal window panes can help lower your heating costs during the winter and may keep that air-conditioner from eating up your energy dollars all summer long. Upgrade your home to the new energy efficient standards of the modern thermal window and start saving money the easy way.