Lowering Heat Loss Through Window Coverings
Window coverings serve a variety of functions, so lowering heat loss through window coverings such as blocking out light, insulation and preventing heat loss is most important in the homes of today. You can effectively maintain the ideal temperature in your home or car by designing the right window covering. There are certain materials that will help you get to your objective effectively. You do not have to spend much on the design, plus you get extra savings by not having to turn on different appliances at the same time. Here are some tips.
Window Function
Windows have been used in buildings and other structures for ventilation and prevention of heat loss. Productivity and comfort among professionals and workers are shown to have improved significantly because of good ventilation. Windows also function as a main source of unwanted heat loss, condensation problems and discomfort. In the 1990s establishments spent billions of dollars to try and balance the unwanted heat losses through windows in commercial buildings and residential areas.
The New Changes
Recently, windows have gone through a technological revolution. Energy-efficient window and glazing systems that promise high performance are now available, which significantly prevent energy consumption and pollution sources. These have lower heat loss and lower air leakage. The new designs feature warm window surfaces that boots comfort and reduce condensation. The high-performance windows also present double or triple glazing, insulating gas sandwiched between the panes, specialized transparent coatings and enhanced frames. These can be incorporated in your own design to minimize transfer of heat, so energy lost through windows is reduced very well and takes the pressure off lowering heat loss through window coverings.
About Glazings and Windows
You have to fully specify a window system through a number of characteristics namely the window U-value, the glass visible transmittance and the window solar heat gain coefficient or SHGC or shading coefficient or SC. Specific performance and aesthetic objectives, the specifier can also indicate the tints, coatings and color.
The kind of window covering you have should be related to the window glazing. This way, you maintain insulation while prevent consistent loss of heat at the same time. You achieve comfort and a stable temperature once you have determine the exact glazing your windows have.
On U-Value
When designing your window covering, consider the U-value. The U-value presents the rate of heat flow via convection, conduction and radiation via a window as an effect of temperature difference between the outside and inside. Higher U-factor means that more heat can be transferred or lost through the window during the cold months. A window having a U-factor of 0.6 on the average will lose heat double with the same conditions as a window having a U-factor of 0.3.
The Glass Type
There are plenty of glass types to consider when designing your window covering. Different thicknesses, low-admittance and materials will also result to different heat loss probabilities. Some of the options you have include double pane insulated glass or the standard clear glass, single white laminated with heat rejecting coating, triple pane insulated glass, high efficiency low-e, suspended coated film and suspended coated film with argon gas fill.
You also have to consider the current tints and coating your window has. Heavy tints will prevent heat from exiting very quickly. Coatings that appear as metal oxides can also be applied to glass during the production process. You achieve low-e which will greatly minimize the heat transfer between glass panes.
So, as you can see lowering heat loss from window coverings is not that difficult when you know what you need at the start especially when you are selling your home.
