Winter In Atlanta...Are Your Windows Ready?

With our first snowfall of the year, we're reminded that Atlanta can still get chilly. Though we don't experience the harsh January weather like our neighbors to the north, the ice and snow that collected over the weekend is enough to make you wonder if your home is equipped to keep you warm.

What makes a window warm? Keeping heat inside your home. A lot of homeowners attribute the cold air that is coming into the home as the main reason their windows are cold. While it is true that cold air does infiltrate drafty single paned windows, heat loss is the biggest reason your home is so cold.

Your heaters are working overtime in the winter (especially those colder days we've had this week) to keep the home at a comfortable 70 degrees or higher. However if your window are not properly insulated, all that heat that your units are producing go literally right out the window!

The home you see in the picture recently had Soft Lite Imperial LS vinyl double hung replacement windows installed. They're double paned, use the best spacer system available (Super Spacer), and have a great thermal rating (.29 U-Value for those interested). Just so you know the lower the U-Value the better and few double paned, low-e, argon windows if any exceed Soft Lite's Imperial LS rating.

We know this family is now experiencing better warmth in their home now because of their new replacement windows. But we also know they'll be cooler in the summer thanks to the way their replacement windows insulate heat. It's a year round investment and one that reduces harmful emissions, saves energy, and gives homes increased comfort and beauty.

Learn more at http://atlantawindows.com

Stay Warm and Cut Heating Costs

You may be one of the many Atlanta homeowners who still owns a home with single paned wood windows. And our warm thoughts and fond memories of the holiday season are not enough to keep the heating bills down and keep you toasty until March. Every winter day, you lose over 75% of your heat to inefficient windows. So your windows are a factor. But now you you can know how the right can windows help.

Air Space

The first element of a warmer window is insulated air space. This also happens to be the first place that single paned windows are lacking. Since all you have in a single paned window is a piece of glass in a wood sash, there’s is no air space to slow down heat loss. In an energy efficient vinyl window, the double paned glass unit creates 7/8”-1” air space filled with inert gas (argon gas in most cases and krypton for that extra boost), that slows heat transference. Remember, when think about your windows, it’s not cold you’re gaining, as much as it is heat you’re losing (thus the cold). A window with an insulated air space greatly increases your windows ability to keep heat in the house where it belongs.

Spacer

The spacer is, simply put, what goes between the two panes of glass. A good spacer does not conduct heat (it keeps heat from passing through the panes of glass) so that your house stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer. If you’re home has single paned windows there’s no spacer working to keep heat in the home and thereby allowing a ton of heat loss. If you have wood or aluminum windows that use an aluminum spacer, you’re losing heat through the conductivity of aluminum.

You want to have a window that has a warm edge spacer. Although swiggel (the black rubbery stuff you see in many wood windows) is a warm edge spacer (non metallic) it falls short by comparison to the latest technology found in most upper end vinyl windows. Super Spacer, Dura Seal, and even Intercept are a few offerings that help cut down on heat loss. When selecting a vinyl window that will help add warmth to your home chose one that has a spacer system you’ve looked in to and that you believe will give you the best insulation your money can buy.

Frames and Sashes

Lastly for this blog entry we’ll take a quick look at how frames and sashes can contribute to reducing heat loss in the winter. Most vinyl window frames and sashes are already better insulated than wood windows and are far better than aluminum. However, not all vinyl windows are the same. If you want that extra boost of insulation, check and see if the windows you’re looking at have a foam filling in its chambers. It’s somewhat nominal but it makes a difference to have that added filling to keep heat in the home rather than passing through a hollow sash or frame chamber.

Also, if you’re concerned about cold air seeping into the home, take a closer look at the weatherstripping that your vinyl window is equipped with. Does it give you the impression that dust, allergens, and drafts will stay out? Just one more thing to think about if you’re trying to stay warm this winter. Your windows can help you more than you know!

If you’d like to learn more of have questions, contact us at info@atlantawindows.com or call us 770-499-8894 or visit us at http://atlantawindows.com.

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Replacement windows needed for this home in Decatur. I'm blogging on this one now to track the process from the replacement of single paned wood windows to insulated replacement windows. The new "Green" windows will create more comfort and especially energy savings for this Atlanta home. Stay tuned for more updates.
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More Ways to Conserve Water

Today's AJC has a great article about a man in Roswell, GA named Jorg Voss who takes water conservation seriously. Since we discussed power and water conservation this past weekend, and although this post is not directly related to windows, it has a lot to do with our aim to help you Go Green and conserve. So here's some of the things Voss is doing on a daily basis that maybe you can try at home.

Disclaimer! Some of these tips may not be for the faint in heart. Don't feel like you have to be another Jorg Voss but maybe there's some ideas you can take from Voss' lifestyle that you can implement at home. Making even one lifestyle change makes a big difference.

1) Rain Collection.
Voss has put together a complex rain collection system. When it's actually raining in Georgia this is a useful tool. However, what ol' Jorg is doing is collecting water from his gutters and using a submersible pump to water his lawn and garden!

2) Waiting for the Water to Warm Up... Don't Let it Go Down the Drain!
Water that we usually waste is collected and reused by Voss. Water that flows while waiting for it to warm in the shower is captured in wash pans and can be used for flushing the toilet or again for watering.
Another tip I received recently that I'm sure Voss is already putting into practice, is reusing dishwater. This "gray water" or, recycled wastewater that doesn't come from the toilet, can be used also for flushing the toilet or watering such plants as Hostas, Hellebores, and most ferns. They love gray water. But don't use it on your Dog Hobbles, Azaleas or Sourwoods.

3) The Wash. That Wasteful Rinse Cycle.
The second and third cycles of the washing machine is a rinse cycle which provides water that is easily reusable. What Voss does with his rinse cycle water is unhook the hose that usually takes the waste water to the sewer and reroutes it to a collection container where the mostly clean water can be reused for washing dishes, watering outdoors, flushing the toilet etc.

The point is any water that can be reused is. Now you may not be the type of person who goes to the lengths that the Voss family is going to but perhaps you can take some of these tips and add them to your routine.

We don't have to be under another drought to think about water conservation. Water is a precious resource and the more steps we can take to avoid waste can make a big difference for years to come.

Well, it wouldn't be a window blog without mentioning replacement windows. In my last post I mentioned how replacement windows save water. Check out this post to see information on how replacement windows conserve energy and water.

Until next time, Atlanta keep going green and please feel free to share any green tips you have at all whether they are related to windows or not. Thanks!

Jaq B in Atlanta, GA

Reducing Your Energy Costs and the Water Shortage

The truth is your energy usage is directly related to water usage. Since power plants use so much water every day to produce energy, the more energy you use, the more water is being put to use.

According to a NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) report 89% of all energy produced in the United States is hydroelectric. Meaning the more energy you're consuming on a daily basis, the more water your consuming as well. And with the drought effecting us in Atlanta, we need to conserve as much water as possible.

Georgia Power posted the graph you see to above. According to their studies, 52% of our energy usage is from heating and cooling. So keeping the thermostat turned down in the winter and up in the summer is important. However, when you consider that you lose a majority of the heat in your home through your windows...see where I'm going?

So believe it or not, green windows help you save money, energy, and water!

Do your part to help us get through this drought. You probably never thought about how reducing your heating and cooling bill could help keep energy and water usage to a minimum.

If you're a homeowner looking for a way to make your home Green. Energy efficient windows are a big step.

If you're not a homeowner tell people you know how important it is to make sure that they have energy efficient windows in their homes.

For an additional resource about insulation and energy reduction, click here.

Jaq B in Atlanta, GA

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.

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).

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

What Makes a Difference in Vinyl Windows?

Brought to you by http://atlantawindows.com

You may have never thought about vinyl windows before reaching this blog and then taking the time to read through this article. You probably thought all windows were the same and even thought the windows in your home were just fine. As long as they’re not rotting and falling apart or fogged up between the panes of glass, why even think about it?

Well there is a difference and picking the right window is a decision you’ll live with for years to come. Either you’ll pick a window that will need replacing 10 years later or a window you’ll be proud to keep in your home saving you money on energy costs for years to come. So what makes one window different than the other? With so many windows out there how in the world do you pick one and live with it? It can seem daunting and in fact is a quite a big sea in which to swim.

Here’s some things to think about that we hope will help the process.

Pick a window that looks good to you. Start off by looking the window over and seeing what kind of things you like aesthetically about the appearance of the window. Does it look cheap or does it look well put together? Does its design suit your style taste or even the decor of your home? Are their elements to the window that look like they could break off easily or are unsightly? Appearances can tell you something about a window and first impressions are important.
Does the window stand up thermally and structurally? Do you like the way the window is built and designed when it comes to withstanding years of exposure to the elements and use? Do the thermal numbers on the window come from a third party rating system? (For instance NFRC for thermal rating and AAMA for structural ratings). Do you know what the numbers mean and are they the best you can get for your dollar? Choosing thermally energy efficient windows is important. But when comparing thermal numbers think about what a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient is, as well U-Factors, R-Values and visible transmittance.
What kind of warranty are you getting and what kind of company are you getting it from? A good, thermal, vinyl window, should last a lifetime. That means the glass should never have fog or condensation between the panes, you should never experience rot of any kind, you should not be getting moisture or excessive draftiness in the house and even if something should go wrong with the components (tilt pins, sash locks, balances, vent locks etc) they should be serviced. Does the manufacturer carry a lifetime warranty on their product. In many cases even glass breakage is covered by most window manufacturers for a number of years. Do they have a long tack record of being in business for a number of years? What about the company that is providing you with these windows? Do they carry a lifetime labor warranty? Will they service the windows years later if something goes wrong? Are they reliable, easy to contact, and have a good reputation in the community they serve?

All of these issues are crucial in choosing the best replacement window for your money. If you want to settle for less, then these tips are of no use. But if you’re looking for window that will look good, keep your home energy efficient for years to come and save you the hassle of replacing them again, then ask yourself these questions as you’re looking through your various options for window replacement.

For more information or questions contact us at info@atlantawindows.com or visit our website http://atlantawindows.com

Know the Difference between what’s between the glass

Brought you by Atlantawindows.com

There’s a little element to your replacement windows that makes a big difference. When meeting with homeowners, most times I have found that they aren’t aware of what spacer system is in their current windows, what spacer system they want in their new ones, and why one is better than the other. But there is a difference! Here are the basics and some tips to help you know the difference.

Lesson One: Every double paned replacement window has a spacer system. What IS a spacer system you ask? If you notice the picture just to the right, you’ll see a spacer system in between two panes of glass. This little piece serves many purposes. First of all, it creates an obvious separation between the two panes of glass. By doing so, window manufacturers are able to build a window that has a layer of low-e coating (a commonly used insulating film) and the spacer provides an additional insulation value because of its ability to keep heat from passing through the window. A good spacer also acts to provide a tight seal that keeps the gas filling (usually Argon or Krypton gas, click here for more information on gas filled windows) from leaking out of the window.

Now you know basically what a spacer does. Let’s discuss the different types of spacers and what makes one better than the other.

Lesson Two: Spacer types. There are two main types of spacers you’ll find in builder grade double paned windows in Atlanta; swiggle and aluminum. Without getting into too much detail I’ll give you one big reason for each of these two spacer systems as to why these technologies fail by comparison to superior systems crafted today.
Aluminum conducts heat rather well which means makes the passage of heat easier rather than slowing heat gain and heat loss which is what good insulators do.

Swiggle among it’s many other cosmetic defects tends to buckle or even crack with time since it is a rubberized black material. It’s insulation value is fairly low but the main drawback is the unsightliness that it creates over the years.

So which spacer systems do you want to look to have in your replacement windows? Unlike aluminum spacers, upgraded windows use “warm edge technology” to ensure a better seal than the conductive aluminum spacers do. Most premiere replacement vinyl windows will use either Super Spacer or Intercept Spacers.

The Super Spacer which uses warm edge technology is found commonly in vinyl replacement windows in standard energy packages that include low-e and argon gas.

For an upgraded system homeowners can turn to the Intercept Spacer which has continued to receive high marks from consumers and window manufacturers alike. Intercept Spacers tend to outperform most other spacer systems and protect against gas leakage, seal failure, and provide higher insulation values.

While Intercept and Super Spacers are not the extent of spacer systems available, they are two of the most commonly found systems and are used in manufacturers such as Softlite Windows, Thermal Industries and Vista Windows.


For more information visit us at Atlantawindows.com or give us a call at 770-499-8894 for an in home consultation.