Save on Energy Bills Through Energy Efficient Windows

Windows are an important criteria in places with heating requirement. They tend to lose heat at a substantial rate and lead to higher use of energy in a building.  Optimizing the windows by choosing the proper direction and their manufacturing material can save energy ensure maintained temperature in all the nooks and corners. Properly designed and placed windows can be the first step towards energy efficient homes and more and more multifamily housing contractors Az are taking note of it.

U Factor: Measurement of Heat Loss
Energy efficiency is not always about trapping solar energy and maintaining for good. Rather it is about finding a balance between utilizing solar energy and maintaining non solar energy. U-factor is the technical term which defines the amount of energy a window can lose or gain. Technically it measures the flow of non-solar energy through windows. A lower U factor means less heat flow, which means, materials with lowest U factors are perfect for energy efficiency

Types of Glasses and U factors

Single glass	-
Double Glass	0.48
Double Glass (e = 0.20)	0.39
Double Glass (e = 0.10)	0.37
Triple Glass (e = 0.10)	0.23
Quadruple Glass (e = 0.10)	0.22

Technically speaking, quadruple glass is the best choice for home insulation and energy efficiency but it might not be the best deal for the budget. So, a smart solution will be to go midway and choose a cheaper option, while taking advantage of natural factors like direction of the window and providing shade to them.

In most of the US, a south facing window is optimum for heating purposes while north facing are apt for cooling. So, in the areas where heating is a basic need all round the year, south facing windows can help majorly in trapping some natural heat through the low sun. This strategy combined with a window material of low U factor can result in an affordable heating bill for nationwide multifamily construction project.

Choosing the Window Material
Window material and their U factors need proper consideration before installation because installing windows is not a task which can be undertaken on trial and error. First thing to note and question while buying the windows is the U factor of the complete set up. U factor mentioned on the glass is usually for the glazing only and it can go very high in the complete setup of frames and insulation.

Secondly, the frames of the windows have major role to play. Aluminum frames are the worst choice because of improper insulation while wood and fiberglass are best for heat insulation. These 2 points make single pane glass windows with aluminum frame obsolete for areas with high heating requirements. They can only manage to look good and can provide some amount of heating benefits only when combined with storm windows are extra thermal insulation. Perfect permutation preferred by nationwide construction projects for heating dominant areas is; multiple pane windows with a low E and gas filled.

Conclusion
Appropriately heating a building while saving on heating bills is easier said than done. Experts believe that heating is a balancing act between using nature at its best and substituting artificial means for added comfort. That is why multifamily housing contractors in Az deem it important to research and find out the best options for window panes while simultaneously finding out the best direction for maximum solar heat capturing.