As the weather starts to cool down here in Colorado, you might be noticing your energy bill rising. Fall is a great time to think about the possible changes you can make to your home so it is more energy efficient and more affordable to keep it cozy and comfortable this winter.
Often, as the temperatures start to drop, people start thinking about how they are heating their homes.
Turning up the heat or lighting the fire will raise the mercury indoors, but where does that heat end up? Heat gain and heat loss through windows are responsible for 25%–30% of residential heating and cooling energy use, so it is important to think not just about heating your home but about how to retain that heat as well.
One of the biggest problems our team identifies in the homes we visit is the amount of energy leakage through poorly designed or installed windows. There are four factors that determine window performance in relation to energy efficiency – the style of the window, the glass, the frame material, and the installation.
How window functions in terms of design can have a huge influence on how energy efficient that window is. Whenever a window is designed to open, there is the potential for energy leakage, but virtually all window styles can now be sourced with energy efficiency in mind. Identifying and sourcing energy-efficient designs is an important part of the process when you work with Colorado Classic Exteriors, which is one of the reasons why we don’t work with a single manufacturer or supplier.
Single-glazed windows are common in older homes, but almost all new buildings have double or triple-paned windows. The technology in insulating glazing units offers a number of different options for the look and performance of your windows, including the coatings on the glass, the spaces that separate the panes, and the gas that fills the spaces between them. Each of these factors impacts the energy efficiency of the windows, but the sheer number of options can feel overwhelming, which is why our team takes special care to listen to exactly what you need and provide the right options for you.
When thinking of a window, most people immediately think about the glass. Perhaps even more important, though, is the material used to make the frame that houses that glass. There are a number of different products used for window manufacture, traditional timber window frames, higher-tech fiberglass frames, and the more budget-friendly vinyl frames. Each of these frame materials are widely used throughout homes in Colorado, and it’s important that you choose the frame material that makes the most sense for your home.
While all of these factors play a role in determining the look and efficiency of windows, the single most important factor to consider is the installation.
Our expert team can help you decide what will look best in your home while also performing well, and all of the windows we install are specially fitted for our customers, they look great, last a long time, and maximize energy efficiency. Every single window fitted by Colorado Classic Exteriors is carefully installed by our expert team, who will even fix up those nasty little surprises left behind by builders doing a quick fix!
How to keep the heat in and the cold out is a common problem at this time of year, but with the right advice and support, this could be the last fall you ever have to think about it. At Colorado Classic Exteriors, we do all the deep thinking and heavy lifting for you, so that all you need to do is tell us what you want and let us do the rest!
Worried about the price of upgrading your windows? The best part about replacing your existing windows with double or triple pane windows is that they will save you hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars every year on your energy bills. They start paying for themselves as soon as they are installed, meaning your return on investment is immediate and noticeable. Still have concerns about the affordability of replacing your existing windows? Ask us about our finance options and how we can help you make your home more energy efficient without breaking your budget.