WINDOWS

FLATTI

Features to Look for in Energy-Saving Windows

Window technology has improved dramatically in recent years, with the net result of lowering your energy bills. Some of the most important energy features of windows are explained below.

Multiple layers of glazing. Until the 1980s the primary way manufacturers improved the energy performance of windows was to add additional layers of glazing. Double glazing insulates almost twice as well as single glazing. Adding a third or fourth layer of glazing results in further improvement. Some of these windows use glass only; others use thin plastic films as the inner glazing layer(s).

Thickness of air space. With double-glazed windows the air space between the panes of glass has a big effect on energy performance. A very thin air space does not insulate as well as a thicker air space because of the conductivity through that small space. Many window manufacturers have increased the thickness of the air space in their double-glazed windows from ¼" to ½" or more. If the air space is too wide, however, convection loops between the layers of glazing occur. Beyond about 1", you do not get any further gain in energy performance with thicker air spaces.

Low-conductivity gas fill. By substituting a denser, lower conductivity gas such as argon for the air in a sealed insulated glass window, heat loss can be reduced significantly. Most major window manufacturers offer argon-gas fill as an option in their most popular windows. Other gases that have been or are being used in windows include carbon dioxide (CO₂), krypton (Kr), and argon-krypton mixtures.

Tinted glass coatings. Tinted glass and tinted window films have long been used in commercial buildings to reduce heat gain through windows. Improved, lightly tinted windows are becoming more common for the residential market in southern (cooling-dominated) climates. These new glazings reduce the solar heat gain without reducing visibility as much as older tinted glass and films.

Low-e coatings. More than any other single improvement, the invention and commercial development of low-emissivity (low-e) coatings in the 1980s revolutionized window technology. Thin, transparent coatings of silver or tin oxide permit visible light to pass through, but they effectively reflect infrared heat radiation back into the room. This reduces heat loss through the windows in the winter. A variety of low-e windows are now available for different climate zones and different applications in any particular location. Low-e windows with high solar heat gain coefficients are appropriate for northern climates where passive solar heating is advantageous, while “southern low-e” windows with low heat gain coefficients are appropriate in milder climates where summer cooling is more significant than winter heating.

Edge spacers. The edge spacer is what holds the panes of glass apart and provides the airtight seal in an insulated glass window. Traditionally, these have been hollow aluminum channels, usually filled with desiccant beads. Aluminum has extremely high conductivity. That didn’t matter when the glazing did not insulate very well, but as better performing glazings were developed, proportionately more heat was lost through the edges. Since about 1990, a number of improved edge spacers have come onto the market. Some are made of thin-walled steel and have a thermal break. Others are made of silicone foam or butyl rubber. Generally, better edge seals are a low-cost option when ordering windows, and worth considering.

To learn more about energy-efficient windows, visit the Efficient Windows Collaborative

WINDOW SELECTION TOOL

SEARCH ENGINE THAT HELPS YOU SELECT WINDOW ACCORDING TO BUILDING CONDITION, WINDOW TYPE AND CITY.(US ONLY)

http://www.efficientwindows.org/selection.cfm

WINDOW & HEAT LOSS

U-Factor.pdf

COLD AND WARM CLIMATE WINDOW TIPS

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/windows.html

FO SHAN LUO BO CURTAIN WALL GLASS CO.

COMPANY ON CHINA.

LOW E-GLASS, COATED GLASS, INSULATING GLASS, SAFETY GLASS, HEAT-STRENGHT GLASS, FUNCTION AND NO REFLECTIVE GLASS.

http://fslb.com.cn/

ANDERSON WINDOWS

ALL TYPES OF WINDOWS

http://www.andersenwindows.com/servlet/Satellite/AW/Page/awProductWindowSelector/1102951372825

KAWNEER NORTH AMERICA

ALL TYPES OF WINDOWS

http://www.kawneer.com/kawneer/north_america/en/product_category.asp?cat_id=1346

SILVER LINE WINDOWS

ALL TYPES OF WINDOWS

http://www.silverlinewindow.com/products.cfm

FIBERTEC WINDOWS

High-tech fiberglass lineals offers an exciting alternative to metal, plastic, or wood frame windows.

http://www.fibertec.com/windows.php

FILM FOR WINDOWS

Film helps hold your glass in place during destructive weather conditions, bomb blasts, explosions, or smash and grab burglaries. It helps maintain the integrity of a structure's outer shell to keep wind, rain and flying glass fragments from wreaking havoc inside the structure. Our films can also reject harmful UV rays, which cause fading and lower energy costs.

http://products3.3m.com/catalog/ww/en001/security/-/node_D1XTWH2W3Kge/root_GST1T4S9TCgv/vroot_67FS85WMRKge/theme_ww_securitymarket_3_0/command_AbcPageHandler/output_html

WINDOWS- CAD FILES

FIXED, CASEMENT, AND SINGLE HUNG WINDOW.

http://www.gerkin.com/pages/cad.html

FIXED WINDOW, ALUMINUM CURTAIN WALL, SKYLIGHTS, SLIDE DOORS, JAMB AND SILL DETAILS.

http://www.swissshade.com/downloads.html

DOUBLE HUNG WINDOWS, HORIZINTAL ROLLING WINDOW, FIXED WINDOW AND MULLION DETAILS

http://www.arcat.com/details/stcloudw/prod0518.html

DETAIL PDF DRAWINGS, BUT WE CAN REQUEST DWGS.

http://fireglass.com/detail-drawings/

CURTAIN WALL, SLIDING, SWING, IN & OUT PROJECTING, HUNG AND HORIZONTAL RIBBON.

http://www.kawneer.com/kawneer/north_america/en/cad_spec.asp