How to Go Green: Energy Efficient Windows

Going green and being eco-friendly keeps getting easier and easier. Sure using windmill farms for energy and Hybrid cars is one way. How do you go green is a little more difficult to answer? Well with advances in science, going green is something everyone can do. The easiest way is to recycle and buy products that are Green. I just got a nice pair of shoes that are green and actually help me burn more calories. Basically it is a mindset which revolves around the concept of your "Eco footprint." This footprint is basically the amount of stress you put on the environment. This is a guide to reducing your "Eco footprint" by utilizing energy efficient windows. How to go green with energy efficient windows can be a complicated subject. This guide should help you through the different options and save you money mainly in your energy consumption.

The best new thing as far as windows is to replace your windows with energy efficient windows that are filled with Argon or krypton gas. The gas actually helps your windows reflect heat back into your house or deflect heat out of your house. The science is pretty simple really older windows were filled with air or vacuumed sealed dry with nitrogen and actually created a more conductive environment for heat transfer. The new Argon filled energy efficient windows do the opposite instead of being more conductive they are better insulated against heat transfer. The gas filled energy efficient windows actually reduce condensation and frost due to the higher temperature of the interior glass. Most major manufactures are offering Argon gas filled energy efficient windows and by purchasing energy efficient windows you can actually get up to a $1500 tax break. The key to energy efficient windows is they have a low u- value. Generally the Argon filled windows initially cost more but pay themselves off in energy savings over the years. Also important to considering the energy efficiency of windows is the installation process. Using flashing around the window framing instead of only caulk helps reduce heat loss around the window.

Another option for reducing solar heat from passing through your windows in the summer is a window film that promises to keep up to79% of solar heat from passing through your windows. This product can make existing windows into energy efficient windows one product is solar guard. This solution is only good for keeping your home cooler in the summer time and reducing your energy consumption by reducing the need for running your air conditioner. The product also keeps 99% of UV rays from passing through your windows and helps protect your skin and furniture from fading.

How to go green is a question which keeps getting simpler to answer. Consider the gas filled energy efficient windows for your new home or when replacing windows in your existing home. The so called smart windows that are out there are still very expensive in relation to the energy efficiency of the window. The smart windows, I did not cover in this guide as they are a few years away from being affordable and proved to be an energy efficient window that does not empty your wallet for the little added gain in efficiency.

Sources:

http://www.andersenwindows.com/servlet/Satellite/AW/Page/awGeneral-3/1143432022798

http://www.1greenproduct.com/2008/07/home-solar-gard-window-film.html

http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/how-to/articles/understanding-energy-efficient-windows.aspx