Windows are rated in a variety of categories that establish their energy efficiency. If you are deciding on windows for your house, more emphasis should be placed on various ratings based on the climate the home is located in. For example, if you are looking for replacement windows in Phoenix, Arizona, a sunny and warm environment, the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient is most certainly the most critical rating to look at. Other criteria, such as the orientation of a window to the sun and any shade that is present ought to be taken into account.

The United State Government's Energy Star program is intended to make it easier for people to identify energy efficient products and practices that will save them money and preserve the environment. The Energy Star program incorporates over sixty products, including windows. Energy Star certification makes it simple for individuals to be certain that they are getting energy efficient replacement windows.

All Energy Star replacement windows are ranked in five areas but Energy Star qualification is based only on the U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. These ratings are also the categories used to calculate if a window qualifies for the IRS Energy Tax Credit.

U-Factor
Determines the pace of heat transfer and shows how well a window insulates. The lower the U-Factor rating, the more effectively a window insulates. The window U-Factor incorporates the thermal attributes of the frame and the glazing.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
Calculates the solar energy transferred by the window and illustrates how effectively a window blocks heat caused by the sun. The smaller the SHGC, the less solar heat a window transmits.

Visable Transmittance (VT)
Calculates the amount of light a window allows through. The higher the Visable Transmittance, the the more light that is permitted through.

Air Leakage (AL)
Determines the pace at which air passes through joints in a window. Air Leakage is measured in cubic feet of air passing through 1 square foot of window area per minute. The smaller the Air Leakage value, the less air that is leaked.

Condensation Resistance
Determines how efficiently a window prevents water build-up. The higher the Condensation Resistance factor, the less condensation build-up a window allows.

Other Replacement Window Ratings
There are a few additional ratings which are not included on the NFRC Energy Star label however they are beneficial and show up on some windows.

Light to Solar Gain
The ratio of VT (see above) to Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (see above) calculates the amount of light that is transmitted without adding heat. A greater number signifies that more light is transmitted without adding heat.

R-Value
R-Value was introduced as a way to measure the insulation value of a product. It determines conductivity and denotes the resistance to heat flow. A high R-Value signifies a better insulated window. The majority windows today are measured using U-Factor (see above).

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