Having lots of windows to let in the natural light also gives the feeling of bringing the outdoors in and can help give the sense of more space by visually extending the room.
However, one of the downsides to having lots of natural sunlight is the amount of heat generated by the sunlight. Sunlight absorbed into your windows makes up to 40% of your summer energy costs.
Not only does sunlight heat up the room but the UV rays can alter the color and cause fading of expensive curtains, furniture, carpeting and hardwood floors. Also UV rays coming throught the window can be absorbed through the skin while indoors.
All of this might cause you to just forego the beautiful views from outside and draw the drapes and run the air conditioner to keep the heat down leaving you with a dark dreary house in the end.
There is another solution: Energy saving window film! Energy saving window film is a thin, transparent sheet that can be applied to the interior of a window to change its heat and light transmitting characteristics. With easy to apply, invisible insulating window film, you can block harsh rays and still enjoy daylight and the scenery.
Energy saving window film is a non-reflective, non-tinted film that fits all single-pane windows and is applied without adhesive. This is an easy do it yourself project that doesn't require a specialized installer.
The sun-blocking and insulation properties of window film can mean substantial savings on your energy costs. Depending on the type and brand of window film, they can block between 65% to around 80% of solar heat coming into the home through a window in the summertime and help reduce winter heat loss by keeping between 35% to 40% of the heat inside the home during the winter time.
Another added benefit is that insulating window films also block between 98 - 99% of UV rays that can fade carpets, drapes, furniture and wood floors. Non-reflective, non-tinted film also has the side benefits of glare reduction, increased shatter resistance, and absorption of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Temperatures near the windows are reduced as well, which increases occupant comfort.
This is a cheaper quick fix solution than replacing all the windows in your home with energy efficient windows if you can't afford to do that at the moment. So enjoy your bright cheery home now and let the light in.
When it comes to wasting energy, it's a fact that most of the heat that disappears out of your home does so through the windows. Most cheap windows have poor seals that lead to drafts and heat loss. This leads to you turning up the heating to compensate which in turn leads to higher energy bills and, topically, you're not helping the environment either. Of course, fitting new energy-efficient windows is a great idea, but it's going to be pretty expensive, right? Well, not necessarily. There are government tax breaks to consider and the ultimate saving in your heating bills.
The US Federal Government certainly wants to encourage you to install energy-saving windows by offering you as a home owner a tax credit to cover 10 per cent of the windows' price up to a limit of $500 per year. So you can see that this is effectively a discount on the purchase price making energy-saving windows and doors much more affordable - and don't forget to factor in the reduced energy bills you'll enjoy too. This particular tax credit is called the Existing Home Tax Credit for Fenestration and covers windows installed from 31st December 2005 to 1st January 2008.
There's an organization that has come up with a rating system to work out the energy efficiency of windows. It is the National Fenestration Rating Council or NFRC. Its' rating systems are the U-Factor which determines how good your windows are at retaining the heat in your home (the lower this rating, the better) and the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient which measures how the windows help to keep the house cool (again, the lower the rating the better). If you want to qualify for the Federal Government tax credit you need to install products that have been rated by this organization. You'll need to submit a copy of your receipt as proof of purchase along with the product's NFRC sticker.
Here are some guidelines as to which energy-efficient windows and doors you should consider purchasing.
The majority of windows that have an energy-efficient insulating function will be double- or even triple-glazed. Between the glass panes will often be an inert, insulating gas like argon or krypton.
A lot of window manufacturers will also put a reflective coating on the glass to help it achieve lower U-Factor ratings. Another benefit of this treatment is that it will often help to filter out potentially harmful UV radiation. Not only is this UV radiation potentially damaging to you, it can also lead to fading the color of your furniture, so there's clearly a benefit if the product you're thinking of purchasing has a UV filter on it.
Finally, good windows have a tight seal that you should be able to feel when you open and close them in the showroom. Try it out. Repeatedly. Compare the cheap windows to the more expensive ones. With practice, you should be able to tell a well-sealed window from a badly sealed one. Only the seal on your refrigerator door should be better.
Look at your heating and cooling bills, and take off ten percent. Price out your windows, and take ten percent off the price of the energy-efficient ones. Now, can you afford not replace your drafty old non-insulating windows?
Both Rebecca Noel & Graham Tasker are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Rebecca Noel has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Improvement, Kitchen Remodeling Ideas and Essential Oils. Rebecca Noel is a licensed real estate agent and real estate investor. and. Rebecca Noel's top article generates over 4400 views. to your Favourites.
Graham Tasker has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Businesses, Family and Home Improvement. If you're looking for some advice then Graham Tasker, the Webmaster of Green Home Website at. Graham Tasker's top article generates over 4400 views. to your Favourites.