There are a huge number of different things to consider when buying new windows for your home. One of the most important of these also happens to be something that many people have never even heard of; U-Values.
U-Values are used to determine the thermal efficiency of a certain material or product, and are used in the window industry to determine how well new double and triple glazed windows will prevent heat transfer between your home and the outside world.
A U-Value is calculated using a pretty simple calculation where the rate of energy transfer through one square meter of the window structure is divided by the temperature on each side.
The final figure is displayed as the number of watts per square meter per degree kelvin.
In other terms – W/m2K.
All this sound pretty complicated, but as a window buyer the only thing that really matters is that the lower the U-Value of a window the lower the heat transfer between your home and the outside world. Having windows installed with low U-Values will, therefore, help you to keep your home at the ideal temperature whilst spending less on heating and cooling bills.
These energy efficient windows will prevent heat escaping during the winter months and warm air from entering during the summer, ensuring that your living space is comfortable all year long without breaking the bank.
In this article we will talk about U-Values in the context of double and triple glazed windows but it is worth noting that U-Values are used to test the thermal efficiency of a wide range of components within a building’s structure including the roof, walls, floor, and doors.
If you are looking to improve the overall energy efficiency of your property, reducing the U-Value of each of these structural components is a good place to start.
What factors determine the U-Value of a window?
There are many different factors that go into determining one single U-Value for a window unit.
These include:
The type of glass used
There are many different types of glass that can be used to construct double and triple glazed windows from standard float to special coasted glass that eliminates harmful UV rays and reflects heat.
The number of panes used
Understandably, the more panes of glass within the window unit the smaller amount of heat transfer will take place.
This is why upgrading from single to double glazing offers such a massive leap in terms of energy efficiency and why the biggest leap in window technology over the past few years has been the introduction of triple glazed windows.
The filling between the panes
The space between the panes of glass in a double or triple glazed window is not empty space but is usually filled with a gas that helps to prevent heat transfer. This gas is usually Argon or similar.
Frame materials
As mentioned above, there are two distinct U-Values that matter when choosing a window unit. Whilst the U-Value of the glass alone is relevant, it is the U-value of the entire window unit that matters the most.
The frame, therefore, is of the upmost importance when choosing an energy efficient window unit and the materials used can vary in their effectiveness.
Benefits of Low U-Values
In the current climate, keeping energy use to a minimum is a must, and U-values are a vital tool in doing so. Just a few of the benefits of choosing windows that have the lowest possible U-Value include:
- Lower energy loss and reduced energy bills
- Reduced carbon footprint
- Keeps condensation to a minimum, reducing the risk of mould growth and the associated potential health concerns.
- Helps to maintain a safe and healthy indoor climate
What U-Values should you be looking for?
Current building regulations state that all existing dwellings should have windows installed that have a U-Value of 1.4 W/m2K or lower.
Many installers go beyond this minimum mark, however, and it is important to do your research when looking for new windows and ensure that you find an installer that offers industry leading U-Value products.
As a leading provider of double glazed windows Edinburgh we understand just how important energy efficiency is to the modern homeowner and have strived to achieve some of the very lowest U-Values anywhere on the market.
We are delighted to say that we have indeed been successful in this pursuit with 40mm triple glazing that offers exceptional U-Values as low as 0.6 W/m2K.
Each and every product in our range is A-rated for energy efficiency and with a huge selection of colours, designs, and styles on offer, when you choose us for your new window installation needs you don’t need to compromise on style when picking energy efficient windows.
