Securing your home with efficient windows and doors is one of the best ways to save energy, reduce noise, maintain low electric bills, keep your home warm in the winter and keep the heat out in the summer. With a number of advancements in how windows are engineered for your home, there are more options than ever before. It’s a home expense that can truly be worth it.

Energy-efficient glass is an excellent place to start. The glass you select is the single most important component when considering energy-efficient windows and patio doors. Innovations in window and door glass coatings and insulated glazing assemblies enable today’s windows to provide excellent energy efficiency, clarity and performance. Two of the most important innovations are double glazing and Low-E glass.

Double Glazing Glass
Fogging and condensation between window panes is a problem of yesterday. Now panes are designed to prevent trapped heat and moisture via glazing. This means two thicknesses of glass are separated by an air space to improve insulation against heat transfer. If you live in a cold climate, there is triple glazing. Triple glazing technology provides yet another option for improving the energy efficiency of your windows. This technology adds a third layer of glass that improves insulating properties, keeping homes in northern regions warmer.

Low-E Glass
Are you sick of your rug fading because it’s positioned by a large door or window? Or maybe you could swear you get a sunburn just by sitting indoors near glass that’s giving off reflected heat. This is where Low E windows come in. Traditionally used in areas to keep the cold out, this technology can also work the other way around. Window companies have changed that with the introduction of microscopically thin coatings that filter the sun’s energy in the summer, keeping your home cool and comfortable by rejecting the sun’s heat and damaging rays. These Low-E coatings allow visible light through but block heat-bearing and fabric-fading portions of the solar spectrum. The result is less solar gain and UV protection against fading fabrics and furnishings.

Argon or Krypton?
Argon gas windows feature a sealed unit that is filled with gas between panes of glass to increase energy efficiency. Argon is an inexpensive, non-toxic, odorless gas that is used on residential windows to prevent frost from occurring at the bottom of window and at the same time will increase soundproofing characteristics of the window. Argon-filled windows are becoming an increasingly popular choice for many homeowners.

If your budget allows and you would like to see long-term changes in your energy bill, Krypton may be right for you. According to a construction expert, Juan Rodriguez, Krypton filled windows are usually more expensive than argon, but krypton serves as a better window insulator. Krypton is a gas used to fill air spaces of ¼ inch and 3/8 inch between the panes. These type of windows cost more than argon gas windows and twice as much as Energy star-rated windows, making them a less-popular option.

For best results, contact Appleby Systems Inc. We have been manufacturing custom windows for over 35 years, and are proud to provide a superior product at a reasonable price. Have questions? We’re happy to answer them. Call us today!