This is not the usual rant you get when I start in talking about windows, we're talking fenestration now.

I just got a call, our builder wants to order the windows for our house. He wanted to know if we wanted to upgrade to low-e (low-emissivity) glazing on any or all the windows in the plan. The kicker being that upgrading all the windows to low-e would cost $750-$800. That seemed like a pretty good deal to me, so I said go for it, low-e all around.

Well, I got to thinking about how to answer the question, "how long until that investment pays for itself?" and I started to look around. I have to say, I was overwhelmed by information. I'm not going to restate it all or even try to summarize it here, but I will highlight one amazing thing I found: a software simulation tool for window specs, courtesy of the US Government. It's got the unfortunate name RESFEN, and it's free for download form the folks at Lawrence Berkeley National Labs.

I'm gonna get my window specs out and do me some simulating.

A couple more links to good info courtesy of the US Government:
efficient windows
selecting windows for energy efficiency

2 comments

Precisely. Between or on, depending.

http://www.efficientwindows.org/glossary.cfm#lowe has a bit of detail, plus everything else to know about windows is at that site.

posted by linear @ 5/5/2003 9:04 AM CST

Lin, is that the stuff that has the metalised membrane between the glazing?

posted by GreatOldOne @ 5/5/2003 9:00 AM CST