Energy Efficiency vs Cost – What Gives?

Now is a great time to replace your outdated windows with more modern hurricane impact windows. In addition to protecting your home, another benefit of hurricane impact windows is their energy-efficiency. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heat gain/loss through windows is responsible for 25-30 percent of the heating/cooling cost in homes . However, many homeowners are concerned about the upfront costs of upgrading to these windows. Energy-efficient hurricane windows are available to fit a variety of budget levels. Let’s evaluate three of the features that can impact the cost and energy efficiency of upgrading your windows:

Window Frames
The material used to construct the frame of a window can have a significant impact on both energy-efficiency and cost of the window. Typically, windows frames are manufactured from aluminum, wood, fiberglass, or vinyl. Aluminum is the least expensive option. Aluminum, like all metals, conducts heats, so it is less energy-efficient than the other options. Wood frames look beautiful and are energy-efficient but require more maintenance than the other frame options. The remaining two options, fiberglass and vinyl, both have excellent energy-efficiency, with vinyl often being the less expensive of the two.

Low-Emissivity Glazing
A low-emissivity glazing (often referred to as low-e) is a metallic coating that is manufactured onto the glass and reduces the amount of heat transfer through it. “Windows manufactured with low-e coatings typically cost about 10% to 15% more than regular windows, but they reduce energy loss by as much as 30% to 50%. ” Moreover, according to Realtor.com, low-e coatings can help reduce sun damage to your furniture, carpets and other possessions by up to 75 percent .

Low-e glazes can also impact the amount of visible light that comes through the window, so it will be important to find the right balance of energy-efficiency, visible light coming through (called visible transmittance), and cost to fit your needs. The knowledgeable team at CitiQuiet Windows and Doors can help guide you as you make this decision.

Installation
All window manufacturers provide instructions for how their windows should be installed. Lack of proper installation can reduce the energy-efficiency of the windows, which means that you will not receive the energy cost savings that you are anticipating. For this reason, it’s best to stick with authorized window installers, like CitiQuiet Windows and Doors, who are experts in window installation and will save you money in the long run.
According to Realtor.com, homeowners can expect to recoup approximately 70 percent of the cost of new windows when they sell their home . They can also expect to save significantly each month on their energy bills. For these reasons, upgrading to energy-efficient hurricane impact windows is a home improvement project worth the investment. Contact CitiQuiet Windows and Doors and we can help you select the right energy efficient hurricane impact windows for your home today.

CitiQuiet Windows and Doors
Since 2012, CitiQuiet Windows and Doors has been engineering and installing high-quality impact windows, doors, and shutters for residential and commercial buildings throughout Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties.
Based in Boca Raton, CitiQuiet Windows and Doors offers a turnkey service to clients including initial design, engineering, and permitting, installation and finish work. From elegant French doors to hurricane impact-resistant windows and sliding glass doors, CitiQuiet Windows and Doors has your solution.

At CitiQuiet Windows and Doors, we carry only the highest-quality products from the nation’s top manufacturers – and we stand behind everything we sell. For a free estimate, contact CitiQuiet Windows and Doors at 561-241-9463, visit us at citiquiethurricanewindows.com, or stop by the showroom today at 910 Clint Moore Road, Boca Raton, FL 33487.

With an A+ rating from Better Business Bureau (BBB), CitiQuiet Windows and Doors consistently strives to exceed customer expectations.