Windows are rated in various categories which measure their energy efficiency. If you are choosing windows for your house, more emphasis should be placed on different ratings based on the climate the home is located in. For example, if you are shopping for replacement windows in Phoenix, Arizona, a sunny and warm climate, the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient is most likely the most crucial rating to consider. Other circumstances, such as the orientation of a window to the sun and any shade that may be present should be taken into account.

The U.S. Government's Energy Star program is designed to make it easy for consumers to identify energy efficient products and practices that will save them money and safeguard the environment. The Energy Star program incorporates over 60 products, including windows. Energy Star certification makes it easy for individuals to ensure they are getting energy efficient replacement windows.

All Energy Star replacement windows are rated in five categories however Energy Star qualification is based only on the U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. The U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient are also the categories used to calculate if a window qualifies for the IRS Energy Tax Credit.

U-Factor
Measures the rate of heat transfer and denotes how effectively a window insulates. The lower the U-Factor rating, the more efficiently a window insulates. The window U-Factor incorporates the thermal properties of the frame as well as the glazing.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
Calculates the solar energy transmitted by the window and indicates how well a window inhibits heat caused by sunlight. The smaller the SHGC, the less solar heat a window transmits.

Visable Transmittance (VT)
Calculates the amount of light a window lets through. The higher the Visable Transmittance, the more light you see.

Air Leakage (AL)
Measures the rate at which air passes through joints in a window. Air Leakage is calculated in cubic feet of air passing through 1 square foot of window area per minute. The lower the Air Leakage value, the less air that is leaked.

Condensation Resistance
Measures how well a window resists water build-up. The greater the Condensation Resistance factor, the less condensation build-up a window allows.

Other Replacement Window Ratings
There are a few additional ratings that are not included on the NFRC Energy Star label however they are helpful and appear on some windows.

Light to Solar Gain
The ratio of Visable Transmittance (see above) to SHGC (see above) determines the amount of light that is transmitted without adding heat. A higher number means that more light is transmitted without adding heat.

R-Value
R-Value was established as a way to rate the insulation value of something. It measures conductivity and illustrates the resistance to heat flow. A high R-Value means a better insulated window. The majority of windows today are measured using U-Factor (see above).

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