Replacement windows | Angies List, Angie’s List

One of the biggest reasons to replace your home's windows is to improve the overall energy efficiency of your home. But how do you compare the energy efficiency among differing window products? Look at the labels.

Windows that feature an Energy Star label have passed standards tests that prove that the products meet minimum criteria for energy efficiency. Energy Star-rated products typically cost more than traditional products, but also offer great energy savings in reduced utility bills. For more information on how window products qualify for the Energy Star label visit the Energy Star website.

Another energy efficiency indicator on new window products is a label from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). The NFRC is a non-profit organization that independently assesses and issues energy ratings for window products.

NFRCs testing of window energy performance is also a key component of Energy Star ratings. According to the Council, window products that carry the NFRC label have been tested to ensure that their advertised energy-efficiency claims are accurate.

Window energy efficiency terms

NFRC labels carry important information about a windows energy performance, which are expressed in two primary efficiency measures.

1. Solar heat gain co-efficient (SHGC)

SHGC indicates how much heat from sunlight a window can block. Expressed as number between 0 and 1, the lower a windows SHGC rating, the more heat from sunlight it can block. For instance a window with a SHGC of 0.35 will allow more heat to pass through the window than a product with a SHGC of 0.27.

2. U-factor

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Replacement windows | Angies List, Angie's List