How Windows, Doors, and Skylights Can Affect Your Energy Costs

energy star logoWindow Energy Performance

Doors, windows, and skylights can all add beauty and light to your home. However, they can also add hundreds of dollars to your energy bill if they are not sealed property or do not have a high-energy performance rating. Knowing the energy performance ratings for all of your windows, doors, and skylights can help to ensure that your energy bill is not affected.

There are many ways that your skylights, windows, and doors can lose heat, including direct conduction through the frame or glass. Air leakage from improper seals can also cause the cold air to get into your home, which can lead to an expensive energy bill. The amount of heat that is lost through doors, skylights, and windows can be measured in two ways – by the u-factor and air leakage.  The higher either the u-factor or air leakage is, the more energy you will have to use to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

The glazing that coats windows, doors, and skylights can also have an impact on the energy performance of your home. There are two ways to measure how well the glazing is transmitting sunlight – light to solar gain and visible transmittance. While windows, doors, and skylights are meant to let light in, they are not meant to let in the outside temperature. The visible transmittance and light to solar gain ratings can let you know how much light is being let into your home compared to how much of the outside temperature is being allowed in.

For more information on your window energy performance at your Ventura County home, contact Agoura Sash & Door in Westlake Village, California. We can help to ensure that you have the perfect windows, doors, and skylights to best compliment the style of your home.