Windows make a difference!
 There are 105 windows in our Project House, which means there are 105
places to let natural light illuminate our interior and 105 opportunities
to create views of the beauty of our landscaping and the outdoor environment
surrounding the home.
However, the presence of 105 windows also means that there are 105
places that are potential sources of heat loss in the winter and heat
gain in the summer—that’s money literally going out the window!
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that $20 billion in energy
dollars were lost in the U.S. in 1990 due to unwanted heat gains and
losses through windows—that’s one-fourth of all the energy used 
for space heating and cooling.
Air can leak around poorly installed windows, either your
expensively cooled air leaking out (ventilation) or cold air from
outside coming in (infiltration). Energy is also transferred through
the edges and frames of windows (conduction, convection and radiation),
and of course, though the glass itself (radiation).
Most manufacturers use “R-values” in rating the energy efficiency of
their windows. The R-value puts a number on a window’s resistance to
heat flow. The higher the R-value, the less the heat loss, and the
standard R-values range from about 0.9 to 3.0.
The following five factors affect the R-value of a window:
- The type of glazing material (glass, treated glass, plastic)
- The number of layers of glass
- The size of the space between the layers of glass and the type of gas
(air, argon, krypton) used to fill the space
- The thermal resistance or conductance of the frame and spacer
materials
- The “tightness” of the installation
Simonton ENERGY STAR ® vinyl frame, Low-E, double-pane argon-filled
windows for the Project House
When we designed the Project House, we knew we wanted windows that
would be good-looking, long-lasting, great for energy efficiency and
easy to care for.
For this reason, we chose vinyl frame, Low-E, double-pane argon-filled
windows from Simonton. Vinyl looks good, is easy to maintain and won’t pit,
peel or chalk over time. Plus, the thermal resistance of vinyl is very
high—virtually the same as wood.
The panes of glass in our Simonton vinyl windows are coated on the
inside with a micoscopically thin, virtually invisible layer of
metallic oxide. This layer, a “Low-E coating” makes a huge
contribution to the window’s energy efficiency by suppressing the flow
of radiative heat through the window.
At the factory, the air between the panes is replaced by argon gas.
Argon gas is heavier than air and is not in continuous motion like air,
so the transference of heat and cold (convection) is greatly reduced.
The Argon gas between the Low-E coated panes acts as an extra layer of
insulation.
The benefits of windows using Low-E, Argon filled glass are significant:
- Reduced energy bills
- Reduced strain on heating and cooling equipment
- Reduced noise from outside
- Reflects over 80% of harmful ultraviolet rays, resulting in reduced
fading of carpets, draperies and furniture
- Reduced potential for condensation
- Increased value for the home
According to studies done by Simonton, depending on where you live,
energy savings of from $250 to $600 a year are possible in a home with
450 square feet of vinyl frame, Low E, Argon-filled windows when
compared to single pane, clear glass windows in an aluminum frame.
Simonton Metallure® finish windows
In the kitchen of the Project House, we’ve installed a Simonton
vinyl casement window that has a bronze coating, to go with the bronze
motifs our designer has chosen for the kitchen.
The window is called a “Metallure®”, and the finish, called METALLON™ is a
coating containing over 95% metal that is adhered to the surface using a cold
spray application process. The result is a unique metal look that’s available
on Simonton Casement, Awning, Picture, Bay, Bow and Geometric styles. The
Metallure® line is designed for both new construction and replacement windows.
Hy-Lite lightweight acrylic blocks
 In the master bathroom, we wanted the attractive translucent look of glass
blocks for our windows, but we also wanted to be able to open them, casement
style. The solution we found was Hy-Lite lightweight acrylic blocks. The
Hy-Lite blocks are fully prefabricated and glazed units that can be ordered and
installed along with the rest of the Simonton window package. These Hy-Lite
units ship and install as a complete window and are 75% lighter than traditional
glass block, allowing for an amazing variety of uses from fixed to casement,
awning, and custom configurations.
Contact Information:
Simonton Windows
1-800-Simonton |
