After going through Parts I and II of this series, you might think that you’re ready to buy your new energy-efficient windows and begin saving money on energy costs – but hold on a bit. There’s one more thing that you’ll need to consider first: installation.
Experts agree that a good amount of energy is lost through the windows. While it would be great to maximize energy efficiency by converting all your windows into energy-efficient ones, you might want to ease off a little and consider the following when it comes to installing new windows.
State Building Codes
Every state has building codes that you need to follow. The code is for the protection of the inhabitants – and there will no doubt be a few things about replacing windows. Your state’s building codes will have restrictions on what type of glass you can use under certain situations. Take the time to consider what windows you’ll be replacing and check your state’s building codes to ensure that you’re not going against it. If you’re not familiar with these sorts of things, you can have your contractor assist you and, well, manage the entire window replacement project for you.
Air circulation
Another important installation factor you’ll need to consider is the design of your home’s ventilation system. Air inside an enclosed space needs to be able to circulate well or you’ll be risking your own – as well as your family’s – health. Make sure that the new energy-efficient windows won’t interfere with the ventilation system of your home.
Location of the window
While you certainly want all of your windows to be energy-efficient, you don’t want to waste money on overkill. You’ll need to consider the climate of your location and the actual location of the window. Naturally, hotter and colder climates need to have more energy efficient-windows. If you live in a location where it’s neither too hot nor too cold during different times of the year, you might not need to exceed the recommended Energy Star values.
You’ll also need to consider the location of the window. If the window is facing the sun, it certainly needs to be more energy efficient. Otherwise, you can make do with less energy-efficient ratings.
