In Toronto it's essential to pick the best energy efficient windows, as the climate here moves from one extreme to the other.
Choosing energy efficient windows will improve your comfort level at home and will also help the environment.
With the right windows, you can reduce the amount of energy used on heating your home and the amount you spend on heating and cooling bills.
How You Lose Energy Through Windows
Most of the energy lost in a home is lost through windows and doors.
In the winter, the cold air outside sucks the heat from your home through the windows. This is called conduction.
In summer, the air inside is warmed by the sun through a process known as radiance.
Throughout the year, infiltration takes place. This is the process by which air moves in and out of your home, using minuscule crevices and cracks around windows and doors.
Since about a quarter of your outside wall space is made up of windows and doors, this means you can lose quite a lot of energy.
Choosing The Right Windows
Most Canadians spend about $1200 a year to heat their homes, and a quarter of this is spent because of heat loss through windows.
Because of conduction, radiance and infiltration, many people in Toronto choose to replace inefficient windows with better, more energy efficient ones.
A starting point for choosing the best energy efficient windows is to look for the Energy Star symbol. Created by the US Department of the Environment and the Environmental Protection Agency, this symbol is often seen on energy efficient appliances. However, it is also used for windows which meet the criteria for energy efficiency.
Choosing a good quality window will minimise heat loss, drafts and condensation. Most of the heat lost through a window is lost through the glass, which makes up about 75% of a window.
Therefore this is the most important area to address in energy efficiency.
Double paned UPVC windows are energy efficient. There are also double paned windows filled with argon gas. These windows are very energy efficient and only a bit more expensive than standard windows.
Windows with R values of up to 10 (rather than the standard 2) are also more efficient.
Finally, adjusting the humidity within your home will also help you make the most of energy efficient windows.
For more information about having the best energy efficient windows in your new home, or to schedule an appointment regarding your Toronto real estate needs,
please contact me.
