In the past few years, the home improvement market has shifted to more eco-friendly and sustainable practices. Since climate change has become a main concern across the globe, people tend to use green materials that will last longer in their home renovations in an attempt to do their part in saving the world. One of the most efficient and popular renovation project across homeowners is to replace the windows and doors to better, eco-friendly materials. The problem is then, how to decide which materials are best suited for your own home renovation project and budget. That’s why we have decided to write this guide to help you identify the different windows materials and choose the right one for you.
Frames
The window frame is what actually holds the glass in place, so you can open and shut the windows without breaking the glass. However, window frames also used as insulators in order to keep the cold A/C air from escaping or prevent warm air from getting inside your house.
Aluminum:
Although people tend to use aluminum or other metal frames since it’s a cheap, strong, light material which is practically the easiest to maintain, Aluminum is actually not the best option for eco-friendly improvements. Since aluminum is metal, it heats very rapidly, causing it to be a poor choice for insulator.
Fiberglass:
Fiberglass is an excellent choice for an eco-friendly material. It is a strong, low maintenance material, and the air cavities inside it can be filled with insulation, which makes it probably the most energy efficient material. However, fiberglass tend to come with a cost, as they are not cheap at all.
Vinyl:
Just like the fiberglass, the vinyl frame is a great material for energy efficient projects. It might not be as durable as fiberglass when it comes to heat, but it is cheaper and can also be filled with insulation.
Wood:
Probably the most beautiful choice for a window frame. Being mother nature’s very own, wood frame can be a great energy efficient solution at most parts. However, living in places with fickle weather, wood should not be one of your choices since it is vulnerable to moisture. In addition, wood frames tend to be a bit expensive to maintain.
Glass
Insulated frames are a good way to make your windows more energy efficient, but the glass itself is has a major impact too. Since the sun rays are going through the glass, the material which you use for your glass can determine how much these sun rays will heat up your house.
Insulated glass is, of course the most energy efficient solution for your windows, but there are a few choices to go along with. The different coating on the exterior side, and the gas inside can increase or decrease your carbon footprint. Our suggestion for your window filler is argon gas. This compound can help prevent the heat from outside to get inside your house, making your window more efficient. For coating, we will suggest low-E glass since the silver components reflect the radiant heat from the sun, leaving only the light to enter your home.
