There are many benefits that come from owning a home that is energy efficient. If you’re able to reduce your reliance on electrical cooling, heating, and lighting, you’ll not only be more comfortable inside, you’ll be saving money. So which factors typically affect a home’s energy efficiency? Can replacement windows and patio doors really make a home more energy efficient? The short answer is absolutely, but read on to find out how!
The Factors That Affect Energy Efficiency
Let’s start off with a brief summary of what being energy efficient is all about: Energy efficiency is a means of performing the same task as something else, but with less consumed energy. For an example, think of a lamp in a room or office. A typical lamp using a standard incandescent lightbulb to sufficiently light a room. If you swap the incandescent bulb out with an LED bulb, the room will be lit just as well (if not better), but it will consume a lot less electricity. The initial investment for the LED bulb might be slightly higher, but it pays off in the long run. The bulb will last a much longer time and will use much less energy to perform the same task, saving you money.
This isn’t true for just lightbulbs, though. Any component of your home that reduces energy consumption without affecting performance is a factor in energy efficiency. According to the Energy Information Administration, space heating can count for as much as 42% of a typical home’s energy consumption. This is followed by lighting, electronics, and appliances at 30%, whereas air conditioning only accounts for around 6%. If you can reduce the cost of your heating, lighting, and air conditioning, you can see substantial savings over time.
Making Your Home More Energy Efficient
Since heating accounts for such a substantial chunk of the average home’s energy consumption, it’s a no-brainer to focus on reducing your heating consumption first. The best way to do this by reducing indoor heat loss by improving your home’s envelope insulation. You can do this with in your attic and exterior walls by upgrading the existing insulation.
You can also do this by upgrading your exterior windows and patio doors. However, since windows and many patio doors primarily consist of glass, upgrading the insulation isn’t as simple of a process. Glass is a naturally conductive material, you’ll need to ensure you upgrade to doors and windows that take extra measures to provide more insulation. The Renewal by Andersen® replacement windows that we sell use two panes of glass with a vacuum-sealed space in between them. Since the two panes of glass aren’t in contact with each other, and there isn’t air between them, it makes it much more difficult for heat to be transferred between them. When you combine this with insulated frames and sashes, it greatly reduces heat loss, meaning you have a more energy efficient window or patio door.
The Renewal by Andersen® replacement windows and patio doors we sell do all the above and more. They come with insulated frames and dual-glazed Low-E4® glass installed that filters solar heat. This means they’re much better at keeping the heat outside and the inside of your home cool in the summer. All of these features add up to a door that is the superior choice for energy efficiency.
Want to learn more about our replacement windows and patio doors? Contact us today and we’ll be in touch with you soon!
