Energy Efficiency Part 1: Factors That Can Reduce It

Increased energy efficiency is one of the biggest benefits of replacing your old windows. However, many products underperform when it comes to energy efficiency. In the first installment of this two-part blog, Renewal by Andersen® of Portland sheds light on the factors that diminish window energy efficiency:

Heat Conduction

Windows with a high U-factor rating aren’t good at trapping heat inside the room. This is because they’re made of a material with poor insulating properties (like aluminum), have an inefficient glazing system or both. In Multnomah, Clackamas, and Marion counties, choosing replacement windows with a U-factor of 0.27 or less is paramount to meet the Northern Climate Zone requirements.

Material Expansion and Contraction

Temperature fluctuations cause building materials to move. They expand when the weather is hot and contract when it’s cold. Materials with a high expansion/contraction rate eventually become leaky. A good case in point is vinyl, which bows or cracks over time.

Seal Failure

Made-to-order replacement windows are designed to be a bit smaller than the window openings they’ll be placed in. During installation, the contractor seals the gaps between the wall opening and the window frame to reduce the chance of air infiltration. If the workmanship is poor, the weathertight seal might not last long, making the window drafty.

Thermal Bridging

Thermal bridges are uninsulated objects that serve as pathways for the heat to transfer from one place to another. There’s no stopping thermal bridging; you can only reduce it with smart design. Unfortunately, many windows have a high glass-to-frame ratio. When made with an inefficient material, the transfer of heat will be significant.

When it comes to energy efficiency, Renewal by Andersen of Portland is one of your best bets for window replacement. Our products have excellent energy performance ratings and bear the ENERGY STAR® seal.

To learn how our windows mitigate the aforementioned factors that affect energy efficiency, stay tuned for the second part of our special blog. To talk about your project in Lake Oswego, Salem or Portland, OR, call us at (503) 419-3960 for your FREE, in-home consultation and estimate.