4 Tips for Energy-Efficient New Home Window Design

If you are in the process of designing a new home, then you likely look forward to choosing your new home windows. Before you begin choosing window styles and considering window placement based on aesthetics alone, be sure to consider how window style, window placement, and window glass will affect your home heating and cooling costs. Read on to learn four tips for energy-efficient new home window design. 1. Place Windows on the Right Walls When choosing where to install windows in a room, take into account the direction the wall faces. Most California homeowners should avoid installing home windows that face east and west. The sun will shine directly through these windows for many hours each day during the summer, potentially increasing home cooling bills drastically. Instead, install most windows on walls that face north and south. Windows that face south will receive some indirect sun during only the sun's peak hours, which typically span from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., during the summer. You can keep this sun from heating your home much during the summer by installing awnings over the windows and embrace this sun during the winter to help heat your home naturally. North-facing windows receive little sun year-round, so they generally do not increase home cooling bills. In addition, when installed on a wall across from a south-facing window, a refreshing cross-breeze can be created that helps cool your home naturally when the air-conditioning system is turned off. 2. Choose Your Window-to-Floor Ratio Wisely No window glass insulates a home as well as a wall. Even a very energy efficient window loses heat seven times faster than the average wall. When designing a home with energy-efficiency in mind, building professionals suggest choosing a window-to-floor ratio, also called a window-to-floor area, of about 15 percent. The average custom home is built with a 30 to 40 percent window-to-floor ratio, which means that many families building custom homes make the mistake of installing so many windows that their homes are less energy-efficient than they could be with fewer windows. 3. Consider These Energy-efficient Window Styles Some window styles are surprisingly more energy-efficient than others. The most energy-efficient window style is the fixed or picture window. Since this window style is never opened, there is little opportunity for air leakage around the frame. The most energy-efficient operable window is the casement window. Casement windows have strong seals on all four sides of them, leading to the creation of a super-tight seal when they are shut that prevents drafts. While you may not want to fill your home with picture and casement windows, work them into your window designs when possible. For example, instead of installing traditional double-hung windows that are made up of two operable sashes, consider single-hung windows that consist of one fixed sash and one operable sash. 4. Select Window Glass that Offers Maximum Insulation The right window glass can prevent heat loss through the glass during the winter while blocking the heat from the sun during the summer. For maximum energy-efficiency, opt for double-pane windows that have low U-factor, or U-value, ratings. Windows with low U-factors allow less heat to flow through them, keeping your home warmer naturally during the winter and blocking heat from outdoors during the summer. Also, choose windows with a good solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) for your climate. This number designates how much solar radiation can pass through the window to help heat your home naturally. If you spend more on home heating bills than home cooling bills, look for a high SHGC rating. If you spend more to cool your home, then look for a low SHGC rating that blocks more of the sun's radiant heat. If you are in the planning stages of a new home build, follow these tips for energy-efficient new home window design to help keep energy consumption and home energy bills low in your new home. Contact the window experts at Concord Glass to discuss your new window needs today.