And just why you ought to look for these products for your next home improvement project.
Based on statistics released by the EPA, about 25% of heating and cooling costs in US residences is from air leakage caused by the faulty installation of windows, skylights, glazed doors, and similar fixtures. Often known as fenestration, most of these furnishings can tremendously change the way your property uses electricity.
What is the NFRC?
Before the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) was formed, there was no way for homeowners and contractors to properly compare fenestration products to one another. Because no one provided standard testing for energy efficient materials, one product’s claim was just as good as all the others’.
The need for a regulating organization increased as more brands started producing energy-efficient products.
Thus, the NFRC was established in the 1970’s to supply guidelines for accurate energy performance evaluations for windows and doors, in conjunction with other accessories. The standards specified by the NFRC have become the standard upon which all fenestration is graded.
Make sure that your windows replacement Houston service provider makes use of NFRC-certified materials. In doing so, you can be sure that any product claims about energy efficiency hold true.
The NFRC Energy Rating Label
The NFRC Energy Label enables homeowners and replacement windows Houston companies to see just how useful a fenestration material is when it comes to energy efficiency. NFRC Energy labels also allow you to promptly evaluate fittings without having to run every product through tests. In addition, while there are a wide variety of evaluation methods utilized by other third party firms, the standards set by the NFRC are probably the most stringent in the industry.
Replacement Windows Houston Texas: Make The Most Of NFRC Labels
Taking a look at the NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) label can tell you a good deal regarding how efficiently a product could help you save energy. Therefore, you will need to have an understanding of what is in an NFRC label and in what way you can make the most out of it:
An NFRC label may possibly look intimidating. However, it is not difficult to figure out. The label is divided into 3 basic elements: the factors, the rating, and product description.
The energy rating factors are the four factors that directly affect the energy efficiency of a fenestration product, while the ratings show how good a substance measures up to NFRC standards. The product description is simply the name of the product which the label describes.
The 4 NFRC Label Energy Rating Factors
As we have previously discussed the various components of an NFRC label, we now focus on the 4 energy rating factors found in an NFRC label.
FACTOR |
DEFINITION |
U Factor | Essentially, the U Factor is the measure of the amount of heat that can be transferred should there be a temperature difference between the two sides of the product. The lower the U-Factor, the better the material is. |
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient | Generally known as the SHGC, it is simply the measure of the level of heat from the sun which can move through a material. |
Visible Light Transmittance | The measure of the amount of visible light that can pass through a product. |
Air Leakage | Describes the ability of a product to hold up against air infiltration |
Find a replacement windows Houston contractor who understands your need for energy efficient home fixtures. For assistance on NFRC approved materials, pricing, and on-site assessment, call ATX Home Improvement Services at (281) 358-2553 and discover the way to a better, more comfortable home.