Buying the Right Windows
Materials, design and location all factor into making eco-friendly decisions and saving on electric bills.
January/February 2002
By Dena Nishek
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Photo courtsey Andersen Windows
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Energy-conscious consumers have plenty of options when it comes to new windows. Regardless of what is motivating you—building a new home, energy costs or drafts and frosty frames—understanding how windows work will help you ask the right questions and choose the right products.
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Practical benefits of efficient window selection include lower heating and cooling costs; less condensation and fungal growth; reduced fading of carpets, upholstery, window coverings, and artwork; and energy savings. All these benefits are factors of glazing, spacer material, frame composition, and window operation.
Household energy costs in most U.S. homes could be reduced by up to 15 percent by installing more energy efficient windows.
—Energy Star
The Frame Game
Frames are major players in window efficiency and cost. Because there are so many materials to choose from—each with different aesthetic qualities and varying levels of durability and maintenance requirements—frame selection can be challenging. Conscientious consumers often consider the origin of a frame’s material; however, Steve Loken of Loken Builders in Missoula, Montana, founder of the Center for Resourceful Building Technology, suggests putting the emphasis on efficiency.
“In the long run, the lifetime energy consumption of the house far outweighs the environmental alternatives of wood versus steel or vinyl,” he says. A good frame does not easily conduct energy. Consider the following metal, wood, vinyl, or fiberglass options.
Aluminum and steel frames are typically the least expensive, at least initially. These are the least thermally efficient frames, so what you save up front you will pay over time to heat and cool your home. They are durable and often recyclable, but they require a lot of energy to produce. Aluminum with a thermal break is better than all-aluminum frames because a less- conductive material separates the interior and exterior components. Some energy codes prohibit the use of solid aluminum windows.
Wood frames are a good thermal choice, but they do require more maintenance than most other materials. A wood frame clad with vinyl or aluminum can significantly ease some maintenance requirements by providing a weather-resistant exterior surface. “Wood is still the best environmental choice because it is renewable,” Loken says. Many wood windows are built with a finger-jointed or laminated wood structural core wrapped with finished lumber. Using smaller pieces of wood in this way reduces waste while retaining the desirable qualities of wood windows.
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