Energy Efficiency
- What are uPVC windows?
- What is the advantage of a vinyl or a uPVC window in the Southeast?
- What makes up uPVC vinyl windows?
- uPVC Windows and Water Intrusion
- How important is a double-glazed or a double pane window?
- What is a Warm Edge Spacer System, and why is it important?
- What is eVantage/iVantage Glass?
- What is argon gas, and why is it important for my window?
- How is the energy performance of a window measured?
One of the main benefits of replacing your windows is energy efficiency and potentially saving money on utility bills.
Just because your home was built with inefficient single pane aluminum windows, or the jalousie windows of yesterday, doesn’t mean you have to be stuck with grossly inefficient products.Back in the days before air conditioning, jalousie windows offered a form of ventilation in the hot, southern climate.
Advances in window technology such as materials and construction keep southern homes cooler and utility bills lower. Below are the elements that result in energy performance for a window or door.
What are uPVC windows?
uPVC, or unplasticized polyvinyl chloride, is a strong and rigid vinyl made without plasticizers. Unlike PVC, common to plumbing and pipes, uPVC does not flex, is durable, and functions well in a wide range of temperatures and operating pressures. uPVC is incredibly stiff and can stand up to outdoor environments and a variety of chemicals without corrosion, pitting, or oxidation. Because of these qualities, uPVC is ideal for window frames and sashes.
What is the advantage of a vinyl or a uPVC window in the Southeast?
Vinyl windows and uPVC windows are superior for energy performance, making them a perfect choice for the South’s endless summers. The uPVC material blocks thermal transfer, so the outside temperature is not conducted or brought to the interior. Contrast this to a metal material such as aluminum that is known for conducting heat or cold.
What makes up uPVC vinyl windows?
The NewSouth Standard is a promise to invest in our products with superior components, which includes our premium, extra-thick uPVC vinyl frame. NewSouth’s sashes and frames are made with a resin-based uPVC compound that includes impact modifiers and Titanium Dioxide. Impact modifiers add durability and extend the longevity of the vinyl by helping to prevent it from breaking or cracking. Titanium Dioxide acts as sunscreen for vinyl by absorbing and reflecting the energy of UV rays which aids in the energy performance of the vinyl. These ingredients are important in creating a long-lasting, low maintenance vinyl for NewSouth’s Ultimate Window.
uPVC Windows and Water Intrusion
Another great benefit of uPVC vinyl windows is the resistance to water intrusion. By way of construction, the vinyl window has fusion-welded corners in the sashes and frames, where the mitered corners are adjoined through a high heat bonding process. This makes the window impervious to water seepage from the corners, and protects your home from water damage. This is crucial for daily storms during the rainy season as well as major tropical storms and hurricanes which often result in massive amounts of precipitation. Compare this performance to aluminum windows, where the mitered corners of the sash and frame are adjoined with mechanically screwed joints, which readily allows for water penetration a few years after the caulking has dissolved.
How important is a double-glazed or a double pane window?
A window with two panes of glass is crucial for energy efficiency. The unit the two pieces of glass are held in is called an IGU, or an insulated glass unit. This unit contains the pane of eVantage/iVantage glass, a Warm Edge Spacer System, and argon gas. The level of efficiency a window or door can reach is determined by the investment in the IGU, which is the key to a high performance window. There are many levels of investment that a window builder can put into their IGU, and consequently varying levels of performance. For reference, a monolithic window, which consists of a single sheet of glass, does not have an IGU.c
What is a Warm Edge Spacer System, and why is it important?
A spacer system is the material that separates the two glass layers in an IGU. The material that the spacer is made of is important for energy performance. A spacer that is cheaper or made with aluminum will decrease the efficiency of the IGU due to thermal transfer and also leaves the IGU more susceptible to indoor condensation.
A close-up of NewSouth’s spacer system, which provides superior warm edge performance.
What is eVantage/iVantage Glass?
A crucial element of the energy performance for windows or doors is the glass component and whether the glass will absorb, transfer, or emit heat. eVantage/iVantage glass has coatings applied, designed to allow visibility while deflecting nearby infrared and ultraviolet light. The key ingredient in eVantage/iVantage coating is silver, which can make this glass expensive. Due to this, there are varying degrees of eVantage/iVantage glass, resulting in a wide range of window performance levels.
NewSouth builds our windows with our eVantage/iVantage glass, the ultimate performance glass. It contains three layers of silver, yet provides extraordinary visibility. It blocks 95% of the sun’s UV rays, which will save your carpets and furnishings from fading and keep the heat out. Because of our investment in a superior glass as well as our other energy-saving components, NewSouth windows meet and exceed Energy Star requirements for the most stringent Southern zones.
What is argon gas, and why is it important for my window?
Argon gas is an inert gas that is colorless, odorless, non-flammable, non-toxic, and is characteristically 38% denser and heavier than the air we breathe. Argon gas is the third most abundant gas in the Earth’s atmosphere. Due to the density of argon, the insulation properties improve the energy performance of a window and help reduce sound transmittance. Argon is inserted in between the panes of glass in an insulated glass unit (IGU), while a monolithic or single pane window will not have argon gas.
All of NewSouth’s windows contain argon gas. After vacating the air out of our IGUs, the argon gas is inserted and sealed inside. This process contributes to the superior energy performance of NewSouth windows.
How is the energy performance of a window measured?
The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) operates a rating system for the energy performance of windows, doors, and skylights. The rating system determines the U-Factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), and Visible Transmittance of a product. These ratings are mandatory for the product and must be included on the product’s labeling.
An example of the NewSouth Window NFRC sticker showing performance in SHGC and U-Factor.
SHGC, which measures the amount of heat that is transmitted through the window, is more pertinent for the Southern climate. The lower the number, the better performing the window or door is when deflecting heat, and therefore, providing energy savings.
U-Factor, which is more pertinent for northern climates, measures the amount of heat that escapes the interior of the structure. Again, the lower the number, the better the performance.
NewSouth Window Solutions has won the coveted DWM Green Award for our work in saving energy and reducing costs in the Southeast. Our commitment to building products that meet and exceed the Energy Star criteria has helped tens of thousands of Southern homeowners reduce their carbon footprint and potentially even save money on their utility bills.
Your Home. Our Window. Proudly Built. Guaranteed for Life.
Windows and Doors
By providing my phone number and clicking on the “Get a Free Quote” button above, I consent, acknowledge, and agree to the following:
- New South Privacy Policy.
- That I am providing my express written consent to share my information with NewSouth’s partners, and authorized third parties calling on their behalf, to deliver calls or text messages to me, including for marketing purposes, using an automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice to the phone number I have provided. I understand that I am providing this consent to receive such telephone calls even if my telephone number is currently listed on any federal, state, local, internal, or corporate Do-Not-Call (“DNC”) Lists.I understand that I do not have to agree to receive these types of calls or text messages as a condition of purchasing any goods or services.
I understand that instead of providing consent, I may call 877-773-8029 to speak with an individual customer care representative.Â
Thank you! We need your help.
Would you share your experience on one of these sites?
