Home Improvement

Hunker Down and Heat Efficiently to Save Money

Winter can bring on a bitter reminder of potential heat loss in a home and ultimately, higher utility costs. Any leaky window or gaping door can affect your heating bill when temperatures drop. Fight frigid temperatures now by making sure your home is as energy efficient as possible. What exactly does that mean? Pella Corporation, a leading manufacturer of windows and doors, offers the following helpful information:

Quality wood, fiberglass or vinyl windows with multiple layers of glass (glazing) are more energy efficient than those with single panes or windows made from aluminum frames. For example, wood provides 1,100 times the insulating value of aluminum and double pane windows insulate almost twice as well as single glazing. Adding a third layer of glass to wood windows provides the ultimate in energy efficiency.

At a minimum when replacing windows, include Low-emissivity (Low-E) glass options to keep your home more comfortable and to help reflect ultraviolet rays that can fade interior floor coverings and furnishings. Thin, transparent metallic Low-E coatings on the inside surfaces of insulating glass permit visible light to pass through, and reflect some energy wavelengths. In the summer, this helps keep heat outside the home; in the winter it helps retain heat inside.

Another key for energy efficient windows is inert gas fill. By substituting a denser gas such as argon for the air in a sealed insulating glass window, heat loss can be reduced significantly. When a window is injected with argon - a natural, colorless, nontoxic gas - and paired with Low-E glass, its insulating qualities may increase energy performance up to 40 percent. Most quality window manufacturers offer argon-gas fill as an option. Pella pairs argon with Low-E glass for greatest energy efficiency. High-altitude Low-E insulating glass does not contain argon gas.

For energy-efficient doors follow these guidelines for best potential performance:

* Choose factory-assembled doors, rather than those built on site for greater reliability and energy performance.
* Weatherstrip and caulk around the whole perimeter of a door to ensure a tight seal when closed.
* Install quality door sweeps on the bottom of the doors if they aren't already in place to help block out wind and moisture.
* Remove old or peeling caulk around door frames and replace the caulk.
* Add a storm door to save energy. The addition of a storm door can reduce energy loss through the entryway by up to 45 percent.
* Follow the manufacturer's recommended installation instructions to help the unit perform as designed.
* Don't overlook patio doors. Treat them just as you would windows when evaluating your home's energy performance. Type of glass, coatings and panes of glass all contribute to a patio door's optimal performance.  
* Consider energy-efficient fiberglass entry door systems with the look of wood grain, for greater protection from the elements with less required maintenance.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average household spends about $1,500 each year on energy bills. By choosing products that meet ENERGY STAR guidelines, consumers can cut this by 30 percent, a savings of about $450 each year. Right now through the end of 2007, replacing windows or adding new storm doors may qualify for tax credits as specified in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Good energy choices are not only good for the environment but good economics for all of us.  

For more information on how you can improve energy efficiency with your windows and doors, contact a local Pella Window & Door store expert by calling (888) 84-PELLA or logging on to www.pella.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content