Performance Ratings - How It Works.
The Energy Star program was developed by the U.S Department of Energy and the U.S Environmental Protection Agency to help identify energy-efficient choices for your home. The Energy Star seal is only granted to products that demonstrate significant reduction in energy consumption in the home. All windows and doors meet or exceed U.S and Canadian regulations to be considered Energy Star compliant.
How Performance Ratings are Determined
U-Factor
A measurement of the amount of energy a material conducts.The lower the U-Factor, the greater the insulating effect, meaning the greater a window resists heat loss. The benefit of windows equipped with lower U-Factor glass is keeping heat loss to a minimum in the cold winter months, giving you uncompromised energy savings. A rating of 0.35 or lower is considered a good U-Factor rating.
Solar Heat Gain
Co-efficient (SHGC) Solar heat gain co-efficient is a measurement of the amount of solar radiation transmitted through a piece of glass or door material. Southern climates can benefit from low solar heat gain co-efficient (SHGC) glass by reducing the absorption of UV rays coming through the window during the hot summer months. A great choice for dramatically keeping your air conditioning costs in check. An optimum SHGC rating is 0.40 or lower.
Visible Light Transmittance (VT)
Visible transmission represents the fraction of visible spectrum light that is transmitted through glass in a window. The higher visible transmission values are associated with more light being transmitted through the glass. R-ValueThe resistance a material has to heat transference. The higher the value, the greater the insulating properties.
Energy Ratings (ER)
window's overall ER rating is based on three factors:
- Solar heat gain.
- Heat loss through frames,spacers and glass.
- Air leakage. Ratings are based on a positive and negative numerical system.
Positive numbers represent heat gain in the summer months and negative numbers take into account the cooler winter season. ER proximity to 0 represents better performance in colder climates.
Energy Star Compliance
The Energy Star program was developed by the U.S Department of Energy and the U.S Environmental Protection Agency to help identify energy-efficient choices for your home. The Energy Star seal is only granted to products that demonstrate significant reduction in energy consumption in the home. All windows and doors meet or exceed U.S and Canadian regulations to be considered Energy Star compliant.
Standard Compliance
Most of Galaxy Windows's products have been thoroughly inspected and tested to meet or exceed CAN-CSA-A440-98 and AAMA performance standards.
