ENERGY MATTERS High-Performance Windows Offer A New View On Savings And Comfort

(NAPSI)-Triple-pane windows have homeowners seeing double when it comes to savings. These high-performance windows can offer both reduced energy bills and cash back on 2010 taxes. They can also increase your family's comfort and raise your home's resale value. Triples Technology. Triples-as they are called in the industry-feature three layers of glass separated by warm edge spacers to form two gas-filled insulating cavities. This assembly is called an insulating glass unit. A framing system houses the unit and hardware for a complete window assembly. "The overall efficiency of a window depends on how well it prevents the transfer of cold and heat from the outdoors to home interiors," says Ric Jackson, energy efficiency expert for Truseal Technologies. "With two insulating cavities, triples offer extra protection against that transfer." Finding The Right Window. Jackson says a window's efficiency depends on four main components: the spacer, the glass, the frame and the gas. Buyers should look for the following features to maximize their energy savings: • Nonmetal spacers that offer the lowest conductivity and warmest edge of glass temperature. • Low-emissivity (low-e) glass to block heat-generating UV light and reduce summer cooling needs. • Energy-efficient frame materials with insulated cores for a superior thermal barrier. • Argon or krypton gas filling to reduce cold and heat transfer. These features combine to give triples low U-values and high R-values. The two values measure thermal efficiency and are opposites. U-values show how easily heat transfers through a window. R-values depict how resistant a window is to heat transfer. A lower U-value, which also represents a higher R-value, indicates a better-performing window. Highly energy-efficient triples, such as those labeled as Envirosealed Windows, feature U-values of 0.20 or lower and R-values of 5 or higher. Energy Savings. Consider the following example of a new 2,000- square-foot home in Boston, Mass. from the Efficient Windows Collaborative. With 300 square feet of single-pane windows, annual heating and cooling expenses may top $1,700. High-performance triples could reduce energy costs by 35 percent to less than $1,100 annually. These savings offer a rapid return on your investment. Because windows typically maintain high performance for 20 years or more, consumers are in a position to realize savings for years to come. Tax Savings. You can add to your savings this year by taking advantage of a tax credit on new window purchases. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) offers a tax credit of 30 percent of the cost of qualifying windows up to $1,500. As a credit, the full amount goes right back in your pocket at the end of the year. Windows must meet certain requirements to qualify for the ARRA tax credit. Most triples will qualify, but not all ENERGY STAR windows. Check with your window provider or the IRS to find out more. Maximize Savings. The ARRA tax credit is an attractive incentive to counter the cost of improving your home's energy efficiency. It applies to a variety of double- and triple-pane windows, some of which meet 2010 ENERGY STAR requirements. The tax credit is the same for any qualifying window. To get the most from your investment, consider high-performance triples. That way, you can maximize both tax and energy savings. The ARRA tax credit expires Dec. 31, 2010. For more information, visit www.EnvirosealedWindows.com.

With efficient spacers, low-e glass and insulated frames, triple-pane windows are designed to significantly reduce energy costs. Word Count: 563 Copy/Paste HTML Article