Energy efficiency is no longer just a trend people follow, it’s an effective way to keep money in your pocket while reducing carbon emissions. It has become a must for anyone who is in the market looking for new windows, as windows are one of a home’s biggest areas of heat loss (and gain, on those hot, glaring summer days). No longer are consumers just looking for style; they want windows that will keep the house warm or cool, which is why, as a homebuilder, you should look into building new homes with energy efficient windows. When a window is specifically designed to prevent energy transfer between indoors and outdoors, homeowners see their bills go down and enjoy a more comfortable home altogether.

Energy efficient window technology relies on Low-E (low emissivity) coatings, which prevents heat-energy from transferring through the glass. That means that the heat produced inside a home stays inside during the winter, whereas those west-facing windows don’t turn the living room into an oven when the sun’s setting on a sweaty August day.

Energy Efficient Windows will help you save on your bill and the planet

For local homebuilders, a London Ontario window company can supply you with energy efficient windows in a variety of styles and materials. For example, London Ontario’s Golden Windows offers wood-clad, vinyl, and aluminum windows with a range of custom grilles, in all major common window types, with custom sizes. Not sure what kind of frames you should use in your next project? Check out what makes each one different below:

Wood

Windows framed with wood offer superior insulation, not to mention the fact that wood window frames fit heritage homes and log cabins. However, they do require more maintenance and upkeep, but this can be mitigated by using wood-clad aluminum frames, with aluminum on the outside saving homeowners expenses down the line.

Vinyl

Vinyl windows from Golden Windows are cost-effective, well-insulating, and maintenance-free. Vinyl windows are standard in most modern homes and you can’t go wrong with them.

Aluminum

Aluminum is maintenance-free and long-lasting, but if your customers are concerned with heat loss in the winter, consider using wood-clad frames or investing in extras like spacers.

You can talk about various window designs and materials all day long, but the installation process is just as important. It is important to find someone who is capable of doing a professional job if you or your subcontractors aren’t up to the task, especially when energy efficiency is a concern. Otherwise, the benefit of having an energy efficient window is lost. You can enlist the help of Golden Windows London Ontario for professional installation, though they also offer detailed instructions for building professionals.

Last but not least, before you buy it’s important to check the energy rating of the product you’re buying. All energy efficient windows will have an energy rating done by Energy Star that is based on U-factor and SHGC. U-factor determines the rate of heat loss and SHGC is short for solar heat gain coefficient; this basically means the window’s capacity to let in solar energy and retain it. The measurements for U-factor fall between 0.20 and 1.20. For SHGC it is between 0 and 1. The lower the number the better the efficiency, but you should also make sure you’re buying products that are right for the Southern Ontario climate.