When considering installing new replacement windows for your home, you’re faced with several different options: fiberglass, wood or vinyl? Casement or double-hung? If you’ve a set (or several) of single-pane windows that are beginning to wear out their welcome, however, you should consider switching to double-pane windows.
Two Reasons To Upgrade Your Replacement Windows With Double-Pane Windows:
1. Double pane windows keep excess heat out by hindering conduction: According to this guide, conduction “is defined as the transfer and dissipation of heat from one material to another”. Adding a double-pane window to your house, therefore, restricts the amount of heat that sunlight would otherwise transfer into your living space, thus reducing cooling bills in the summer.
2. Double pane windows retain energy better than single pane windows: In addition to keeping excess heat out of your house, double pane windows also help to retain heat (or cool) that your home generates through its heating/cooling system. The National Resources Defense Council cites that about one-third of a home’s energy is lost via its windows and doors. Double pane windows add an extra shell that keeps this energy from leaving your house – in fact, they offer twice the insulation of their single pane cousins. According to the Energy Guide website, double-pane windows insulate by keeping a “layer of still air, a good insulator, between the panes”, keeping your energy bills down and your hard-earned dollars in your savings account.
With its extremely cold winters and hot, humid summers, it’s especially important in Chicago to maintain a home that’s energy-efficient and can adapt well to changing seasons. If you’re in the Chicago area and are ready to save money on your utility bills by installing replacement windows, please contact us for a free consultation.
