About Green Window Tips

Brought to you by Atlanta Area Window and Door Co.
Hey, Atlanta!
This blog is dedicated to bringing you expert tips and information about energy saving windows in Atlanta.

We welcome any feedback and tips you'd like to share as one concerned with helping Atlanta Go Green!

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

What Can You Do? Tell Someone!

Yes this blog is entirely about green windows and doors. But I'm hoping that by spending a few minutes reading and looking around you'll be able to see some of the ordinary things you can do to reverse the trend of energy waste and high level of greenhouse gases. Everyone can do his or her part.

You may have found this blog and you want to be "green" but you're not a homeowner. If so you may not be at a place to consider replacing windows and doors with energy efficient units but you still want to help.

Well good news! Today I have a good tip for you in which everyone can take part. You can help the people around you "Go Green" with the investments they put into their homes.

Your mission this week: Talk to someone.

As an individual who is earth conscious and thinking about as many steps as you can take here in Atlanta to make a difference, tell someone you know about the importance of replacement windows and doors.

Why? Because sadly so many homes built here in Atlanta are still lacking where they need insulation the most; windows and doors. They still have single paned windows or poorly insulated doors. These units do not contribute at all to a home's insulation!

In a home with single paned windows heat in the summer time has no way of being kept out of the house. So people crank up their AC units to keep the home cool. Thus, high energy bills and higher C02 emissions! In the winter, it's the same thing. Homes with single paned windows have no way of keeping the heat inside their home and thus the trend continues in the cold months as well.

However, by replacing windows with energy efficient products that are double paned, come with "Low-e", argon gas, and a good warm edge spacer, you can cut those C02 emissions and lower energy bills greatly.

Makes a lot of sense doesn't it? So tell someone! Let them know they can make a very affordable investment in their homes that will make a HUGE difference in protecting our environment. Not to mention all the "green" they'll save in dollars by keeping their heating and cooling bills lower.

Spreading the word is what "Green" is all about.

Was this post helpful? Let us know! Leave a comment or come visit us at atlantawindows.com

Thanks!
Jaq B.

Friday, November 23, 2007

The Lifestyle of Green: The Three Numbers of Window Efficiency

If your aim is to go green you'll soon find that what really makes a long term positive effect on our environment is all the little, daily decisions you make. Going green is a lifestyle. Being able to make a difference that will last a long time to come is a result of living a life that will have beneficial results.

These sundry decisions we make add up. Taking a reusable grocery bag to the store. Maybe biking to the store rather than driving. Using energy efficient light bulbs. All these choices combine to make an important impact.

It's the same with your windows. Since you live with them everyday, making the choice to upgrade to well insulated energy efficient windows is a huge step you can take to keep heating and cooling costs way down and even reduce the amount of harmful C02 emissions that are released.

When you think about what kind of laundry detergent you purchase you usually look for the kind that's low in phosphorous. When you pick out a new window for your home why not select a replacement window that will reduce energy cost as well as give you a good conscience knowing you've cut down on emissions as well.

So here's a quick tip. When selecting an energy efficient window, pick the one that gives you the best numbers for your buck. There are three numbers to consider that will help you know the thermal value of each window you look at.

U-Value-This value measures the overall thermal value (glass, frames, and sashes) of a window by telling you how slowly heat is transferring through window. The lower the better. Most good windows will have a U-Value of around .28-.30. Anything higher than a .30 may not be worth a second look.

R-Value- It's the inverse of U-Value and uses a more is better scale. It usually measures the density of insulation and how well it blocks heat. Higher is better here. Most well insulated windows have an R-Value of 4 in the glass. The tricky thing about R-Values is that you can get different values from different components of the window. For example the glass may have a 4 while the sashes have an 11. That's why we mostly turn to U-values for an accurate assessment of a window's thermal value.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient-(SHGC) measures how well a window blocks heat from sunlight. The SHGC is the fraction of the heat from the sun that enters through a window. SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The lower a window's SHGC, the less solar heat it transmits. A good number to look for on a window is .23-.25.

So as you look into replacement windows, these numbers will give you a good idea of what you're comparing between products. The better the numbers the better the performance you'll get and your dollars can go a lot further. You'll be investing in a window that will not only last a long time but its insulation value will be one that you can feel good about.

For even better numbers in a vinyl replacement window, don't forget about the options of triple paned units, krypton (rather than argon) gas, and Super Spacer (one of the best spacers available).

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Going Green


It’s sort of a big deal to us. We hear about global warming, gas prices, and diminishing resources all the time. It seems you can’t turn on the news without hearing some kind of mention of these hot topics.

That’s why “Going Green” has become such a concern for so many Americans. People are now looking for ways to not only cut their energy costs to save some “green” in the pocketbook, but also make a lasting impact on the environment.

One way we recommend save some “Green” is to have your single paned or clear glass windows replaced with energy efficient replacement windows that provide better warmth in the winter and keep you cool in the summer.

How can this make an impact you may ask?
Consider:
Most heat loss and gain comes is through your windows and doors. Since they open and close frequently and let in light, they typically are built with poor insulation value. Since your home has to work hard to compensate for this loss during the cold of winter or the heat of summer, your AC units are working overtime during the height of each season to keep you comfortable.
All this output and energy consumption from your heating and cooling units does two major things;
Raise your gas/electric bill to sky high levels.
Produces high levels of CO2 (carbon dioxide) gasses.

But how can replacement windows and doors help? When window frames, and glass are properly insulated they can help in a big way. Things you should look for you in your replacement windows; multiple panes of glass for one. Most windows are available with up to three panes of stacked glass for added insulation value. Also the presence of “Low-e” (for low emissivity) is vital. The low-e coating goes on the inside of a pane of glass and acts as a heat shield, keeping heat in for warmth and out during the hot months. Don’t forget about warm edge spacers which you can learn more about here.

For more information contact us or visit us at http://atlantawindows.com