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What makes windows and doors energy-efficient in Canada?

windows and doors

windows and doors

Selecting energy efficient models for your doors and windows can lower your energy usage in the house. Major features to consider when choosing energy efficient windows and doors are:

Special coatings: Also called low emissivity coating or low-e glass along with insulated sashes and frame make your window more comfortable and lower condensation on the glass.

Window gas fills: Distinct passive gases between the glass panes in place of just air for better insulation.

Triple glazing: It helps in better noise reduction from the outside and even higher energy savings.

Tips to consider:

  • One should hire an expert to get the windows and doors installed- the professional installers ensure that your doors and windows give their best.
  • Make sure you install windows with better insulation on the northern and eastern sides of your house to lower heat loss.
  • Know about the factors which effect energy efficiency such as conduction, convection, radiation and leakage of air.

The doors and windows label in Canada have these components:

  • The Energy Star symbol which means that the model is extremely energy efficient.
  • Certified energy performance marks as accredited by a certification agency.

As per the Energy Star promise, all Energy Star certified products are tested to meet rigid efficacy specs and are accredited by an independent third party. They render similar or better performance than the standard products without any compromise.

Factors which affect energy efficiency of windows and doors in Canada:

Energy balance: There is some heat loss in all fenestration items.

  • Radiation: Heat energy is absorbed by the glass and radiated on the cool side.
  • Conduction: Heat energy travels through solid which include frame, sash or spacer bars.
  • Convection: Heat energy is transferred to air between the glass.
  • Air leakage. Heat energy is in the air moving through seals and gaps of the sash

Windows can acquire passive heat energy through the glass to lower energy bills during heating season. The balance is seen in energy-performance rating.

Product type

Windows which don’t open are air-tight in comparison to the ones that do. Casement, awning and tilt-turn windows are more air-tight than sliding ones. Hinged doors are more air tight than sliding ones because of the compression seals.

Material

Windows and doors are available in several types of materials such as vinyl, wood, steel, aluminum and fiberglass. Frames and sashes made from vinyl have several interior chambers that can be filled with foam for better efficiency. Frames and sashes made of metal are less energy effective as metal is a good conductor of heat, but the material is majorly used in fenestration items in commercial buildings to meet fire and building codes.

Glazing

Glazing is used for transparent material i.e. glass used in doors and windows. Glazing is contained in insulating glass which comprises of two panes separated by a spacer and vacuum-packed around the edges to make it air-tight. The higher glazing layers, the better.

For instance, triple glazed products with three glass layers are 50 percent more effective than double glazed items. Sometimes polyester film replaces one pane of glass to lower the overall weight.

Tinted glass lowers summer cooling cost but may add to your heating cost in heating season. IG units filled with passive gases such as krypton lower heat transfer via the glass.