Posted by James Desmond on Wed, Jun 09, 2010 @ 12:14 PM
Heat Mirror technology is a low-E coated film product suspended inside an insulating glass unit. The result is a triple unit with two airspace's without the weight of triple insulating glass and with far superior insulating and shading performance. Heat Mirror was introduced over 15 years ago and marked the beginning of the technology that applied microscopic metallic coatings to window glass components. This technology suceeded in producing more energy efficient window glass and launched the popularity of Low E coatings in modern window glazings. Heat Mirror is a film-based technology where by a thin film coated to retard heat transfer is suspended between two pieces of glass and sealed into an internal glazing unit.
When Popular Science Magazine chose the 100 Greatest Inventions as a milennium-year special, only 5 appliances made the list. Along with the air conditioner, stove, washer and refridgerator, they listed a product they called "one of the more dramatic advances": Heat Mirror Windows. It helps conserve fuel, save money and provide year round comfort in both commercial and residential buildings. Heat mirror film can turn your window into a sophisticated climate controlling appliance, able to block heat transfer through the glass, achieving energy performance from your windows nearly 10 times that of single pane glass and 5 times that of ordinary dual pane glazings...And it knows what season it is; retaining radiant heat in the winter and repelling it in the summer. Heat Mirror doens't stop there. It effectively blocks over 99% of UV radiation from the sun which prevents fading of furnishings, carpet and drapes, and also reduces sound transmission for a quieter home.
Suburban Windows & Siding is an exclusive Heat Mirror dealer, for more information please contact us!
Posted by James Desmond on Wed, May 05, 2010 @ 01:40 PM
The annual Cost vs. Value report for the Home Improvement industry has come out from Remodeling Magazine and the Window and Siding categories have remained stable in the top 10 since 2005. Over the past 5 years, exterior replacement projects such as Siding, Roofing and Windows have continued to rise through the charts in this report. This change in Cost vs. Value for these projects is due to the growing importance of "Curb Appeal" in the housing market. Homeowners have been retaining their investments over time for exterior replacement projects (see below) when it has come time to sell. Another reason why exterior replacements have climbed up the ladder in Cost vs. Value is because they are generally cheaper than other home improvement projects. This report is done on a national level, but broken down for specific counties like Hartford and New Haven. Here is a look at an excerpt from the Hartford County Report:
Project Cost Recouped
Vinyl Siding Replacement 86.0 %
Vinyl Window Replacement 82.3 %
Entry Door Replacement 117.0 %
Roof Replacement 67.4 %
Sunroom Addition 49.8 %
Home Office Remodeling 47.8 %
Basement Remodeling 64.0 %
Family Room Addition 62.3 %
Garage Addition 61.0 %
MasterSuite Addtion 63.4 %
(The Remodeling Magazine Cost vs. Value Report 2009-2010)
Posted by James Desmond on Thu, Apr 29, 2010 @ 12:00 PM
Many people wonder what makes a replacement window more energy efficient than another, especially if they can't see any distinct differences? Basically, how well an energy-saving window performs depends on the construction of the window frame and the spacer material that separates the individual frames of glass inside the pane and the glass itself. Energy-efficient windows include modern technologies to reduce air flow and heat loss. These technologies include glazing, low-E coatings, low-U values, and gases such as krypton or argon between panes. There are many different types of Energy Efficient Windows advertised these days, but most of them barely make the Energy Star standard. Here are 5 categories of what to look for when shopping for an Energy Efficient Replacement Window:
1) Multiple Panes of Glass: Two panes of glass, with an air or gas-filled space in the middle, insulate much better than a single pane of glass. Some Energy Star qualified windows include 3 or more panes for even greater energy efficiency, increased impact resistance, and sound insulation.
2) Improved Frame Materials: Vinyl and Fiberglass frames reduce heat transfer and help insulate better.
3) Low-E Glass: Special coatings reflect infrared light, keeping heat inside in the winter and outside in the summer. They also reflect damaging ultraviolet light (UV rays), which help protect your interior furnishings from fading away.
4) Gas-Filled Windows: Some energy-efficient windows have argon, krypton, or other gases between the panes. These odorless, colorless, non-toxic gases insulate substantially better than regular air.
5) Warm Edge Spacers: A spacer keeps a window's glass pane the correct distance apart, today's warm edge spacers reduce heat flow and prevent condensation. We use a Duralite Spacer System which improves the total window R-value which reduces heat loss and saves money on energy bills.
To find out more information about Suburban's highest energy-efficient window, The HEAT MIRROR Replacement Window, please click here.
Posted by James Desmond on Tue, Apr 20, 2010 @ 02:18 PM
The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient indicates how well the product blocks solar radiation from the sun. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat it transmits. The ENERGY STAR program has established specific criteria for replacement windows and doors for three climate zones in the US. It is recommended that you contact the manufacturer to ensure that the product is ENERGY STAR certified and that you check the U-value and SHGC numbers. To be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification, products must be rated, certified, and labeled for both U-value and SHGC in accordance with the procedures of the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) at levels that meet the ENERGY STAR qualification criteria in one or more climate zones.
Here at Suburban Windows and Siding we have an exclusive line on Heat Mirror Replacement Windows, which are currently the most advanced window on the market. Heat Mirror is a film-based technology where by a thin film coated to retard heat transfer is suspended between 2 pieces of glass and sealed into an integral glazing unit. Heat Mirror helps conserve fuel, save money and provide year round comfort in both commercial and residential buildings.To find out more information about the Heat Mirror technology, please click here.
Posted by James Desmond on Tue, Apr 06, 2010 @ 12:08 PM
This week, an assembly of 45 different companies sent an open letter to President Obama stating that Americans need more information about their energy consumption in order to conserve it. The companies consisted of tech firms, telecoms, and environmental groups, such as Google and AT&T, who believe that Americans are uninformed on the energy they consume, where it comes from, and if they are using it efficiently. If properly informed, they believe that consumers could save up to $360 per person/per year on their energy bills.
Here at Suburban Windows & Siding we are continuously trying to help others improve their energy efficiency with several cost-effective home improvements. We have seen too many people paying "through the roof" in order to keep their homes comfortable during the winter and throughout the summer. We believe that energy efficient home improvements: replacement windows, replacement siding, replacement roofs, and replacement doors can make an outstanding difference in our community both economically and environmentally.
For example, faulty windows can account for around 30% of your heating loss in the winter, forcing your heating system to work harder, which then leads to unnecessarily higher energy bills. In the winter, warm air inside your house tries to move outside to colder air, and in the summer the warmer air outside tries to move inside. This process happens because windows are less efficient than other parts of your house such as the walls, the floor, and your roof. To find out more information about our most advanced energy-efficient replacement window, The Heat Mirror Window, please click here. Thanks!
Posted by James Desmond on Thu, Mar 18, 2010 @ 11:30 AM
Conserving energy, by purchasing energy-efficient appliances and upgrading certain features in your home are the smartest, most economical, and most potent environmental action you can take. Whenever you save energy, you not only save money, you also reduce the demand for such fossil fuels as coal, oil, and natural gas. Less burning of fossil fuels also means lower emissions of C02, the primary contributer to global warming and other pollutants.
Consider These Energy-Saving Investments:
1) Insulate your walls and ceiling. This can save 20-30% of home heating bills and reduce C02 emissions by 140-2100 pounds/per year.
2) Modernize your windows. Replacement windows that are argon filled and double-glazed, such as Suburban's Heat Mirror window, can save: 2.4 tons of CO2 for homes with gas heat, 3.9 tons for oil heat, and 9.8 tons for electric heat, per year.
3) Paint your house a light color if you live in a warm climate to reflect heat and paint your house a dark color if you live in a cold-climate to retain heat.
4) Buy energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs for your most-used lighting sources. Although they cost more initially, they save money in the long run by using only 1/4 the energy of an ordinary incandescent bulb, and they last 8-12 times longer.
5) Plant trees around your home where shading is necessary. Each tree you plant can absorb 25 pounds of CO2 from the air annually.
*For any questions about how to conserve energy in your home, please feel free to contact Suburban Windows & Siding.
Posted by James Desmond on Tue, Mar 02, 2010 @ 02:00 PM
President Obama will be announcing a new $6 billion dollar program today called "Cash for Caulkers" that will hopefully stimulate the economy by providing incentives for Americans who make energy efficient home improvements. The new program "is intended to prompt Americans to invest in everything from insulation or new windows to overarching energy upgrades of their homes."
Created after the success of "Cash for Clunkers" last summer, this program has been developed to create more jobs and provide incentives for all who participate. This program will only be available for a short time period, however the White House is expecting that the average household could save between $200-$500 this year if they participate. "The program involves a range of incentives for consumers, including rebates from stores that sell building materials, companies that install the equipment and utility energy efficiency programs. Consumers can also get rebates for a range of home energy upgrades."
Here at Suburban Windows & Siding we have an exclusive line of Heat Mirror Replacement Windows that are one of the most energy efficient windows ever designed. To find out how you can take advantage of "cash for caulkers" and other energy efficient incentives, please feel free to contact us at 860-828-8227.
