subject: Choosing Windows For Your Home [print this page] Your home windows should take more than a few minutes of consideration. Windows let light into your home and can either heat and cool efficiently, or turn your home into a fishbowl that heats up in summer, lets you freeze in winter and doesn't do much for home security.
Some of the most important considerations when it comes to choosing windows for your home include:
control of temperature inside your house, i.e., keeping indoors warm in the winter and cooler in the summer
providing a view while also providing privacy and security (making certain the windows are secure and not easy to break into)
daylighting--letting in natural light both for energy savings (less daytime use of electric lighting) and for improved health, both physical and mental. Research by U.S. Department of Energy laboratories has shown that natural light is beneficial for humans working inside buildings, can help maintain good health and cure some medical problems. The same facts are true of any building people inhabit--homes or office buildings.
Choosing Wisely
You can address each of these considerations by choosing the right kind of home windows. For thermal control, choose tinted windows (either windows tinted during the glass production process or by applying films to the window) or low-emission ("low-e") windows that still let in plenty of natural light (spectrally selective windows) but keep out the harmful ultraviolet rays that fade furniture and heat up the house.
To provide security, look into casement windows. Generally casement windows open outward off one hinge mechanism and the crank mechanism to open and close them is located inside on the bottom of the window. Because the window comes into direct contact with the weather-stripping and the frame, these windows are second only to fixed windows for security.
Let the sun shine in--to whatever degree you choose. With smart choices, your home windows can let in the light and keep the weather out.