|
A Window is a
Window is a Window……. right?
Buying windows
can be very complicated.
There are dozens of manufacturers that make dozens of brands.
Then there are wood windows, vinyl windows, aluminum windows,
and fiberglass windows. Then there is hard LowE, soft LowE,
LowE/2 (energy efficiency of glass), different gas packages,
and different Solar Heat Gain Coefficients, U-Values and DP
ratings. Are the windows Energy Star rated? Do they meet NFRC
requirements for your climate? Where does it all end?
Brennan Windows
eliminates the guesswork. All of the windows we sell are
Energy Star compliant and meet NFRC ratings for your climate. Also, our windows provide a
limited lifetime manufacturer’s warranty. See our
Warranty page for more
information.
If you want more
knowledge about the complexity of windows and Energy Star
ratings or the NFRC certification, keep reading.
Characteristics: |
Aluminum Windows |
Vinyl Windows |
Wood Clad Windows |
Wood Windows |
Durability |
Durable |
Very Durable |
Vinyl Clad:
Very Durable
Aluminum Clad: Durable |
Damage associated
with moisture is more of a concern |
Sturdiness |
Four times that of
Vinyl and 23 times Wood |
Considerably
Strong |
Exterior Frame: Quite Strong
Interior Frame: Slightly Weaker |
Slightly Weaker |
Energy
Efficiency |
Energy efficiency
is of concern due to aluminum's ability to conduct
heat and cold |
Quite Efficient |
Wood Clad is
energy efficient |
Terrific Insulator |
Maintenance |
Fairly Low
Maintenance |
Typically
Maintenance Free |
Low Maintenance |
Regular
maintenance is required |
The Design |
A pleasing palate
of colors that will accentuate your home |
Flexible and
streamlined, but with more limited color options |
Exterior: The designs are based on aluminum or vinyl
Interior: Designs determined by natural wood choice |
Singular designs &
natural beauty of wood provide limitless options |
Cost |
All
price ranges available - fits any budget |
All
price ranges available - fits any budget |
Medium to High
Priced |
Medium to High
Priced |
Frequently asked Questions
What are the advantages of vinyl, wood, aluminum, and fiberglass replacement windows?
Replacement or custom windows offer a number of advantages, including:
- Increased Energy Efficiency
- Enhanced good looks
- Greater resale value
- Less noise from the outside on the inside
Can I afford replacement windows?
Replacement and custom windows are available in a number of materials:
- vinyl
- wood
- fiberglass
- aluminum
- and in price ranges affordable for every household.
Your Brennan Windows associate will give you all of the details and let you make the best choice for you, your home, and your budget.
My neighbors have has bad experiences with home improvement companies. How is Brennan different?
Brennan promises one thing - You will be completely satisfied with our products, our work, and our employees. It's that simple. Brennan has been in business since 1979 and we couldn't have stayed in business that long if our customers weren't convinced that they received the highest quality products, installed by the most skilled and knowledgeable building professionals, backed up by a service- and satisfaction-oriented group of employees. It can be that simple. Just give Brennan's a try.
What is the Energy Star Rating?
When you’re choosing new or replacement windows, it’s always good to look for the Energy Star rating.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the Energy Star program in 1992 to protect the environment through energy efficient products and procedures. In order to receive an Energy Star rating, products falling under 50 home and office categories must meet strict energy conservation guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy, which partnered with the EPA on Energy Star in 1996.
The first Energy Star labeled products were computers and monitors, but this line quickly expanded to include printers, fax machines, residential appliances and fixtures, windows and even new homes and buildings. According to Energy Star, Americans saved enough on Energy Star products in 2006 alone to save $14 billion on utility bills and avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that released by 25 million cars.
What Else Does Energy Star Do?
In addition to providing a rating system, Energy Star helps organizations and consumers practice informed decisions, delivering technical information and tools through more than 9,000 partnerships in the public and private sector. Energy Star’s efforts have led to more widespread use of LED traffic lights, efficient fluorescent lighting, energy management systems for office equipment, and low standby energy use.
Consumers can look for the Energy Star label when shopping for a new home or searching for new home products, such as refrigerators, dishwaters, and home heating systems. The label will show the product’s typical yearly energy usage. Examples of Energy Star labeled products include full-sized dishwashers that conserve 493 gallons of water per year and washing machines that save over 12,000 gallons of water per year. Appliances with the Energy Star rating average 10 to 20 percent higher energy efficiency than their non-rated counterparts. Items labeled “Energy Efficient” may have low energy emissions without meeting the standards to be rated as an Energy Star product.
Are Energy Star Products Tested?
The energy performance of all ENERGY STAR qualified windows, doors, and skylights must be independently tested and certified according to test procedures established by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).
NFRC is a third party, non-profit organization that sponsors certified rating and labeling programs to help consumers compare the energy and performance features of windows, doors, and skylights.
NFRC's programs do not distinguish between “good” and “bad” windows, set minimum performance standards, or mandate performance levels. This is where ENERGY STAR comes in. ENERGY STAR enables consumers to easily identify NFRC-certified products with superior energy performance.
What Does the NFRC Label Mean?
Performance Ratings
The NFRC label, which can be found on all ENERGY STAR qualified windows, provides performance ratings in a number of categories: 
- U-Factor measures the rate of heat transfer and tells you how well the window insulates. The lower the U-Factor, the better the window insulates. U-Factor values generally range from 0.25 to 1.25.
Find the ENERGY STAR U-Factor for your region.
- Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) measures the fraction of solar energy admitted and tells you how well the product blocks heat caused by sunlight. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat the window transmits. SHGC is measured on a scale of 0 to 1; values typically range from 0.25 to 0.80.
Find the ENERGY STAR SHGC for your region.
- Visible Transmittance (VT) measures the amount of light the window lets through. The higher the VT, the more light you see. VT is measured on a scale of 0 to 1; values generally range from 0.20 to 0.80.
- Air Leakage (AL) measures the rate at which air passes through cracks in the window. AL is measured in cubic feet of air passing through one square foot of window area per minute. The lower the AL value, the less air leakage. Most industry standards and building codes require an AL of 0.3 cfm/ft2.
- Condensation Resistance measures how well the window resists water build-up. The higher the condensation resistance factor, the less build-up the window allows. Condensation Resistance is scored on a scale from 0 to 100. The Condensation Resistance rating is useful when comparing different products. ENERGY STAR qualification is based on U-Factor and SHGC ratings only.
|
