Are you hoping to save on your energy bills with your new windows? You better know how to read energy-efficiency labels marked on windows before you buy them. Aside from the NFRC Certified label, which means that the window manufacturer and the window’s performance are in accordance with the National Fenestration Ratings Council, the labels also include useful ratings that will help you determine if a particular window is energy-efficient especially in the area where you live in.
According to HGTV Remodels, the energy-efficiency labels include two basic ratings:
- U-factor – This indicates the heat loss rate of the window from a building. A low U-factor rate would mean that a window is more resistant to heat flow and has more insulating value.
- Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) – This tells how much solar heat can go through a window; hence, the lower the SHGC, the better.
Aside from these two ratings, there are also additional ratings, including visible transmittance, air leakage, and condensation resistance, which are further discussed by HGTV Remodels. You may click here to read the entire post on understanding energy efficiency labels of windows.
