Give Your Home an Energy Makeover

A survey or audit of a home's energy usage and costs can identify specific ways to reduce your home energy bills. Many state energy offices and local utilities offer energy audit services, or may be able to provide other sources for this service. ENERGY STAR offers a tool to assess your home and compare your household's energy use to others across the country and to get recommendations for improvement.

Start at the Front

A home's front door can play a vital role as one of the first lines of defense against the elements. If a door doesn't close properly or lets in a draft, you'll pay the price in your utility bills. Check the weatherstrip for any gaps around the door. If issues can't be easily fixed, it may be time to replace the door.

Glass Matters

At JELD-WEN, we make the right, energy efficient windows for your home. A window is more than just a pane of glass. It's a complex unit that can be built in a number of combinations. Energy efficient windows feature an insulating glass unit of two or three panes as well as Low-E coatings, gas fill and a variety of engineering advancements that stop the transfer of heat and cold. Together these high tech options make a glazing package.

Check the Compass: The direction windows and doors face can make a big difference in the sun's intensity level within the home. South- and west-facing windows and doors require the highest level of UV protection.

Calculate the Savings: Beyond the initial purchase price of a product, consider the long-term value that energy efficient products offer in terms of annual measurable savings. In addition to the savings listed above, many local utilities offer rebates for purchasing ENERGY STAR certified windows and doors.

There are a number of factors that impact the energy efficiency of windows and doors. Here are a few terms to keep in mind:

• Low-E Glass: Low-E — or low emissivity — is an invisible metallic coating on the glass designed to reflect infrared light, keeping heat inside in the winter and outside in the summer. It also reflects part of ultraviolet light to protect interior furnishings from fading prematurely. Low-E is often the best choice for energy efficiency and frequently standard on many products.

  Watch videos: Take energy efficiency to the next level with JELD-WEN Low-E 366 glass or Energy Saver Plus® glass.

• ENERGY STAR®: ENERGY STAR is a voluntary program created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that helps businesses and individuals reduce energy consumption to save money and protect the environment. You will see an ENERGY STAR label on a window or door if it meets the energy saving specifications for a designated climate zone.
• Gas Fills: Manufacturers often fill the space between glass panes with gas, such as argon or krypton, to improve thermal performance. Both argon and krypton are naturally occurring, inert, nontoxic, nonreactive, clear and odorless. Krypton has better thermal performance and is more expensive to produce.

  Watch video: Learn about energy efficient window options with argon glass.

• Glazing: Glazing refers to the act of furnishing or fitting a window with glass. Glazing can be a noun or a verb. As a noun it is defined as the infill material (glass). As a verb, it is the process of installing the infill material (glass) into the window sash or frame.
• Glass Options: Glass options may vary by region. Double pane insulating glass is the most common. Other options might include triple glazed insulating glass which is often better suited for more northern areas for best thermal performance.
• VLT: Visible Light Transmission (VLT) is the percentage of sunlight that penetrates a window or door. Higher percentages mean more light will enter through the glass.
• U-Factor: U-Factor is the amount of heat flow through a product. The lower the number, the more energy efficient the product is.
• SHGC: SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient) indicates a window or door’s ability to block heat generated by sunlight. The lower the SHGC number, the greater the blockage will be.