American vinyl windows are designed to conserve energy and reduce your home heating and cooling costs. The combination of vinyl’s excellent insulation properties and specially designed insulating air chambers makes vinyl frames a formidable barrier to heat transfer. Plus, combining Warm Edge 3/4″ insulating glass with Low-E coating and Argon gas will maximize energy performance. It is this combination of technologies that effectively decreases heating and cooling costs while at the same time minimizes sound transmission. Low-E also blocks up to 75% of the harmful ultraviolet rays which can fade carpets, draperies and artwork. In addition, Argon gas is six times more dense than air, and greatly reduces the transfer of hot and cold – adding even more thermal efficiency.
Tests performed to the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) method demonstrates the superiority of vinyl windows versus alternative framing materials. Vinyl windows keep the warm air in during the winter and the cool air in during the summer. In fact, using conservative national averages, upgrading to double glazed, energy efficient all-vinyl windows could save a homeowner more than *32% a year during the coldest part of the winter or the hottest part of the summer.
We use Intercept® and Quanex® for our spacers. Intercept® from GED Technologies provides you with warm-edge spacers used in insulating glass units, designed to improve thermal performance and energy efficiency in windows. The super spacer from Quanex® building products is engineered for demanding commercial door unit glazing, including silicone structural glazing (SSG), and features an internal acrylic adhesive for immediate handling.
Low-E (low emissivity) Insulated Glass Coatings – Few things enhance the beauty of a home as dramatically as windows. For those who demand more from their windows – enhanced style, great versatility and high performance – there’s American vinyl windows with Low-E insulated glass. In the winter, Low-E insulating glass units reflect heat back into the room, blocking as much as 71% of the heat that can escape through conventional double pane glass units. Low-E coatings also allow free solar heat to enter from the outside. The result is greater comfort at less energy cost. In the summer, Low-E insulated glass units block 65% of the radiated solar heat from entering the home, while the special coating reduces direct summer sun rays by as much as 13%. This reduces total heat gain, making it easier to cool the home in the summer which helps reduce summer cooling costs. American vinyl windows with Warm Edge Low-E insulated glass units can reduce sun damage and fading by up to 75% protecting furnishings, carpets, paint and artwork. Additionally these well-insulated windows resist condensation and drafting, ensuring greater comfort.
Argon is a safe, colorless, odorless non-toxic, inert atmospheric gas which dramatically improves a window’s insulating ability, particularly when used in conjunction with Low-E (low emissivity) glass. Warm Edge Insulating Glass with Low-E and Argon Gas have a 89% higher R-Value than conventional double pane insulating glass units. Argon gas filled glass units also reduce sound transmission by 3-4 decibels making American windows more efficient at noise reduction.
An R-Value measures a material’s resistance to heat loss. The higher the R-Value, the greater the energy efficiency of the glass unit, and therefore the window. American Double Hung windows have an R-Value as high as 3.23.
The U-Value is a measure of how well heat flows through an object. The lower the U-Value, the better the insulation value of the material. American Double Hung windows have a U-Value as low as 0.31.
American Window has set the standard for quality and service in the window industry. Our windows and doors are engineered and built to meet the highest standards and specifications in the industry. American Window custom vinyl windows are certified and tested to AAMA and NFRC standards, as well as enjoying a partnership with the Energy Star program.
The Energy Star window program is a voluntary partnership between the US Department of Energy and participating window manufacturers. All of our windows using Solarban 60 Low E glass are Energy Star compliant.
American vinyl windows are 40% more efficient than the products required under the most common national building codes. An average household spends over 40% of its annual energy budget on heating and cooling costs. Installing ENERGY STAR windows can reduce those energy bills by up to 32%.
American Double Hung windows with Warm Edge insulating glass, Low-E glass, and Argon gas have a U-Value of 0.30 which is the lowest ENERGY STAR requirement.
In choosing American windows you can be assured that you have chosen a product that will save energy on your heating and cooling costs. You can also be assured that American windows will fit your lifestyle, beautify you home and increase your comfort level.
All American windows have the NFRC label to insure that they have been independently tested and certified to meet your energy needs and qualify for the ENERGY STAR program.
The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is a non-profit, public-private organization created by the window, door, and skylight industry. It has established a voluntary national energy performance rating and labeling system. All American Window’s windows meet NFRC rating guidelines.
The American Architectural Manufacturing Association (AAMA) is a voluntary organization that establishes material performance standards for the window industry. Our windows meet or exceed the AAMA guidelines.
As you can see, our windows and doors meet or exceed demanding rating requirements, providing a lifetime of top-quality, performance and efficiency.
*All data is from the “Residential Windows” second edition. All U-Value and R-Value data is from Architectural Testing an independent testing lab.
