Replacement Windows: A Green Upgrade for Your Home

Not only do the windows of your home impact the look and feel of your space, but they also have a major influence on its eco-friendliness. No matter how conscious you are of plastic, water, and electricity use in your home, old and outdated windows could be negatively impacting a portion of your eco-conscious efforts. 

Replacement windows improve both the curb appeal and environmental friendliness of your home. To maximize your efforts toward sustainability, read on to find out how replacement windows can make your home more energy-efficient and more environmentally friendly. 

New Windows Better Regulate Indoor Temperatures

In both warm and cold conditions, windows make a big difference in your home’s interior temperature, which impacts the world’s environment, too.

The more you have to compensate for the weather’s influence on your home’s interior temperature through the use of its heating and cooling systems, the more your home’s power demand increases. The more your demand increases, the larger your carbon footprint.

Electricity demand is responsible for a large percentage of greenhouse gas emissions. Electric power plants generate electricity through the use of fossil fuel combustion. This not only depletes these resources but also produces harmful CO2, the greenhouse gas primarily responsible for heat confinement, that is then released into the atmosphere. 

New windows help to cut down on a home’s electrical use through better temperature management methods than are found in older models. Regardless of the season, replacement windows have cutting-edge technology to curb your home’s overall electrical demand–and place significantly less strain on our environment in the process.

When It Gets Cold 

Single-pane windows are a common feature in homes across the country, especially in older houses. When they were first introduced, single-pane windows were constructed with state-of-the-art materials at the time, but these materials are far less effective than the components of today.

Older, single-pane windows are more likely to have degraded materials that let in cold drafts and allow heat loss, which can have you cranking up the heat when the temperatures outside drop. 

Fortunately, modern windows are double and triple-paned and are built with sturdier materials designed to prevent cold drafts from seeping inside, so you’re a lot less likely to run the thermostat, and your power bill, way up. 

When It Gets Hot

During the warmest months of the year, the sun’s radiation streams through the windows of your home and can make things a little more uncomfortable for you and your family if your windows are older or worn out.

Just as with colder days, older windows don’t always do a good job at blocking the outside heat, which often leads to an increase in energy use and you and your family sit inside surrounded by oscillating fans with your thermostat turned all the way down. 

The windows of today are coated with a protective layer specifically designed to block heat energy from passing through. As well, modern windows utilize revolutionary air technology to manage the thermal output of heat energy that hits the surface, so even when it’s very hot outside, you can enjoy the sunlight without the heat impact on your interior temperatures. 

New Windows Use Energy Star Approved Materials

One of the first things many homeowners should look for when they need to upgrade their home’s components is a solid green rating. The gold standard for windows is an Energy Star rating, which is afforded to different window materials that have been proven to conserve energy and reduce overall power demand. 

The amount of heat loss and gain through your home’s windows are responsible for up to 30 percent of your home’s energy use. New windows can significantly improve the energy efficiency of your home by providing better insulation, so you have less need to use excess energy to compensate for air leaks, worn-out stripping, drafts, or inefficient components. If you’re ready to make your home a more energy-efficient place for the sake of both your family and the planet, get in touch with the professionals at Fischer Window & Door Store