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"Nationwide, homeowners stand to recoup 69 percent, or
$6,198, of their $9,026 investment." |
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(Quote by remodeling magazine.com) |
Commonly Asked Questions:
- Q: Why is
vinyl better than Aluminum?
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|
A: Vinyl
has Lower heat conductivity and it doesn't corrode. A dual pane vinyl
window is about 40% better insulating than a dual pane aluminum window.
Consequently, condensation is usually eliminated completely. |
- Q: Don't dual
pane windows get foggy in between panes?
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|
A: Some
brands have more trouble than others. Top brands warranty against
failed seals, the cause of fogging, and rarely have seal failures. Ask
if the brand you're considering has it's own service crews, and read the
warranty carefully. |
- Q: Every
vinyl window I see looks pretty much the same. Why is one better than
another?
|
|
A: Some of
the most important differences are in the vinyl compound. Yellowing and
chalking are examples of poor quality which can not be seen until it's
too late. Other important differences are in the quality of welds, the
hardware, and the energy efficiency ratings. |
- Q: What are
Low E and Argon?
|
|
A: These
both increase energy efficiency of dual pane glass units. Low E is heat
reflective metallic coated glass, and argon is a dense inert gas which
is injected between the panes. Together they can increase the energy
efficiency of a dual pane window by about 50%. |
- Q: I like the
look of wood inside my home, but I hate to paint the exterior, and
wood is so high maintenance. Is there any solution?
|
|
A: The
solution is to buy windows with wood interior and some other material
exterior. For many years vinyl and aluminum have been applied to the
exterior of the window, but warping was still a problem. Milgard,
Andersen and Marvin are now making fiberglass frame windows, and
cladding them with wood on the interior. |
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|
|
A: The
rate of heat loss is indicated by the U-value of a window assembly. The
lower the U value, the greater a window¹s resistance to heat flow and
the better its insulating value. The insulating value is indicated by
the R-value which is the reciprocal of the U-value. A U-value of 0.35 or
less is recommended in cold climates. In warm climates a low U-value is
helpful during hot days or whenever heating is needed. |
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Reasons to Change Your Old Windows Now:
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*
Energy Saving |
 |
|
Lower Pacific Gas and
Electrical bills mean the windows pay for themselves. |
|
There is an Energy Rebate
Program available. Ask us. |
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*
Easy Gliding |
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Roll and
lock smoothly |
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*
Quiet |
|
Greatly reduces noise
from cars, dogs, neighbors, etc. |
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*
Reduced Condensation |
  |
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No more
mildew on the window sill. |
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*
Weather Tight |
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Keep out
rain, dust, pollen, and drafts. |
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*
Beauty and Value |
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Always
looks freshly painted. Thus giving your home a new look and increasing
it's value. |
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Great Warranties |
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Some
manufacturers offer lifetime guarantees. |
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Maintenance Free plus dual sealed, long-lasting, and durable |
 |
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No fade
and never have to paint again. |
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*
Custom Designs |
|
Choose
from contemporary to antique. |
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|
About Energy
Efficient Windows:
The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
have developed an
Energy Star designation for products meeting certain energy performance
criteria. Since energy efficient performance of windows and skylights vary
by climate, product recommendations are given for three U.S. climate zones.
You can visit www.energystar.org for
more information.
-
Look for Efficient Window
Properties on the NFRC Label
| The National
Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) has developed a window energy rating
system based on whole product performance. The
NFRC
label provides the only reliable way to
determine the window energy properties and to compare products. The NFRC
label appears on all products certified to the NFRC standards and on all
window, door, and skylight products which are part of the Energy Star
program. At this time, NFRC labels on window units give ratings for
U-factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), Visible Transmittance
(VT), and Air Leakage (AL). |
|
 |
| EWC
Central zone recommended windows properties ( heating & cooling) |
| U-factor |
Solar Heat Gain
Coefficient (SHGC) |
Visible Transmittance
(VT) |
Air Leakage (AL) |
Select windows with a U-factor of 0.40 or less. The larger your heating
bill, the more important a low U-factor becomes.
Select skylights with a U-factor of 0.45 or less.
In California, a U-factor of 0.40 or less is recommended. In warm
climates a low U-factor is helpful during hot days or whenever heating
is needed, but is less important than SHGC. |
If you have significant air conditioning costs or summer overheating
problems, look for SHGC values of 0.40 or less. If you have moderate air
conditioning requirements, select windows with a SHGC of 0.55 or less.
While windows with lower SHGC values reduce summer cooling and
overheating, they also reduce free winter solar heat gain. Use a
computer program such as RESFEN to understand heating and cooling
trade-offs.
Select skylights with a SHGC of 0.55 or less.
In California, a SHGC of 0.40 or less is recommended where summer
cooling is of concern. In heating-dominated climates, a high SHGC
increases passive solar gain for the heating, but reduces cooling season
performance. A low SHGC improves cooling season performance, but reduces
solar gain for heating. |
Select windows with a higher VT to maximize daylight and view. |
Select windows with an AL of 0.30 or less (units are cfm/sq ft). |
|
Lighthouse Windows is
approved by the RCP (Residential Contractor Program) |
Through the
statewide Residential
Contractor Program for
Energy Efficiency,
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
is offering cash incentives for you to get your home's heating, ventilating
and air conditioning (HVAC) system diagnosed and tuned up, and for taking
other energy-efficient steps. The program, which is authorized by the
California Public Utilities Commission and
administered by the various statewide utilities, is designed to encourage
energy efficiency on a "whole house" basis for optimal comfort and economy.
Ask us how we can help you take advantage of this program.
|
 |
We are also an
AAMA
Certified.
AAMA,
The American
Architectural Manufacturers Association is the source of performance
standards, product certification and educational programs for the
fenestration industry.
You can find
out more about at www.aamanet.org
|
Visit our showroom for more information.
 (831) 426 2601 |
