Page 34 - The Homeowner's Handbook 2017

THE HOMEOWNER’S HANDBOOK EIGHTH EDITION

Windows & Doors06

Look for performance, warranty and durability.

Window and door manufacturers
are not only creating more durable How Windows Handle Energy

and energy-efficient products,
they’re tailoring glazing options for

specific climates. CONDUCTION
is the direct
transfer of heat
LAZING TECHNOLOGY HAS improved by leaps through the window
and bounds over the past few years. Today, you to the outdoors.
can get a high-performance window or door that
looks good and performs well at any price point. RADIATION
The windows and doors you select for your is the movement
of heat as infrared
Ghouse—retrofit or new—must meet your local energy through
energy code requirements, and ideally, should be Energy Star- the glass.
qualified for your home’s climate..
AIR LEAKAGE
is the passage
ENERGY COSTS of heated air
The Right Window through cracks and
If you want to reduce utility bills, you need to consider the impact around weather
stripping.
of windows. In climates with a significant heating season, windows
have represented a major source of unwanted heat loss, discomfort CONVECTION
and condensation problems. But today it is possible to have lower occurs when air
heat loss, less air leakage and warmer window surfaces that improve gives up its heat
comfort and minimize condensation. to the cooler glass
and sinks toward the
Similarly, in climates that mainly require cooling, windows typically floor. This movement
represent a major source of unwanted heat gain—but low-E finishes sucks new, warmer
that reject solar heat without darkening the glass have changed the air toward the glass
that is in turn cooled,
rules. These glazings significantly reduce solar heat gain and improve creating a draft.
comfort, at the same time providing clear views and daylight.
As an example, a study by the Efficient Windows Collaborative GRAPHIC INSPIRED BY FINE HOMEBUILDING
(www.efficientwindows.org) shows that the annual heating cost
of a typical house in Boston drops from about $750 a year to $550
(24 percent) by switching from double-pane windows to triple-pane

EuroLine Windows Inc. 4700-Series Schlage Sense Deadbolt
ThermoPlus Tilt and Turn Windows With keyless entry, built-in alarms and durable
design, this multi-function lock offers control
These European-style windows combine a six-
chamber vinyl-fiberglass hybrid frame with optional via simple access codes, so homeowners never
foam inserts and triple-pane insulating glazing to have to worry about losing, hiding, carrying or
achieve the thermal performance needed for passive forgetting their house keys again. The touchscreen
solar house design—at a considerably lower cost. deadbolt connects with Nexia Home Intelligence,
One easy-to-operate handle moves the multi-point enabling homeowners to manage their home security from anywhere. At
locking hardware into place, locking the window on all sides for higher security ANSI Grade 1, the touchscreen deadbolt boasts the highest level of security
and a tighter seal. www.euroline-windows.com and durability for residential door locks. www.schlage.com

32 GREEN BUILDER The Homeowner’s Handbook 2017 www.greenbuildermedia.com

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