Window Energy Efficiency and Air Leakage: A Quick Guide

Window replacement is great because it can also play a role in making your home more energy-efficient, with the key lying in making sure you keep air leakage at bay with your new windows. 

Air Leakage and Energy Efficiency: The Connection

Air leakage and energy efficiency don’t mix, no thanks to drafts getting in the way of easily achieving your desired indoor temperature. This forces your heating and cooling system to compensate, working doubly hard to keep you comfortable, which unfortunately results in excessive energy use. By keeping indoor heat in and outdoor heat out, you can avoid high energy bills.

Air Leakage Ratings

In the energy performance label used by the National Fenestration Council, air leakage is defined as the measure of how much air will enter a room through the window product. Air leakage can’t be completely avoided but the less of it occurring, the better. This is why it pays to look for the lowest air leakage rating possible in a window replacement NFRC rating label.

Air leakage ratings are also required for ENERGY STAR® certification. When a window is ENERGY STAR-certified, it means it met standards set by the program, therefore making it an energy-efficient product. Select windows from Renewal by Andersen® were recognized in 2020 as Most Efficient of ENERGY STAR.

Note: To give a better measure of energy efficiency and overall window performance, the NFRC label also includes U-Factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient and Visible Transmittance ratings.

Renewal by Andersen of Portland offers a range of window replacement products to address your every need. Want to make sure your new windows are energy-efficient? We have you covered. To learn more about what we can do for you, simply give us a call at (503) 419-3960 or fill out our contact form. Talk to us today! We serve Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, WA, as well as the surrounding communities.