Energy-Efficient Windows & Savings You Can Expect Here In Milwaukee!
What Kind Of Savings Will Energy Efficient
Windows Earn For Milwaukee Homes?
Learn About TightSeal Replacement Windows
And Why They Work So Well In Our Climate
Are you interested in high-quality, energy-efficient replacement windows for your Milwaukee home? With so many brands, manufacturers, and options, it’s easy to feel lost, especially when dealing with the weather we experience in the Southeast Wisconsin region.
And you know what they say about the weather in Wisconsin:
Just wait ten minutes, and it’ll change.
In Wisconsin, we enjoy all four distinct seasons. We live through the cold, snow-covered winters, the muddy but floral-filled springs, the hot and sunny summers, and the cool, colorful falls. It’s one of the things that makes the upper Midwest such an exciting place to live.
It’s also demanding on windows. This is why TightSeal windows are all custom-made for perfect fits, American-made to be Wisconsin-tough, and Energy Star-rated.
That Energy Star rating is where efficiency comes into play and tells you, generally, what to expect.
Energy Star? What’s That?
In short, it’s a rating system you can use to tell how energy-efficient windows will be in our specific Milwaukee area of the country.
In their own words:
Every ENERGY STAR window and door is independently certified and verified to perform at levels that meet or exceed energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
It also means an Energy Star partner manufactures the windows themselves. They build their windows to abide by guidelines set for the four different weather zones in the screenshot below, of which we’re in the Northern.
As time passes, the requirements to heat or cool our homes for most of the year and the costs of doing so can add up. Whether it’s keeping the house warm and toasty over a long winter or cool and comfortable on those hot, muggy days during the summer, we invest a significant amount of money into managing the temperature of our homes.
How Much Will I Save On Energy Bills?
Let’s take another look at the map, but this time, we’ll add Energy Star’s basic average annual energy savings table. It shows savings when replacing windows in our zone, depending on whether you’re upgrading a single or double-pane (TightSeal windows are double or triple-pane).
Keep in mind these are very general numbers. They give you a round ballpark figure to work with. Regardless, if you’re upgrading old single-pane windows with updated double-pane TightSeal windows, you will see substantial savings over time.
What’s The Criteria For Energy Star Windows?
It’s worth repeating that as time passes, energy-efficiency standards increase.
Where they’ll stop, no one knows yet. As of early 2024, without going too deeply into the science and engineering that make modern energy-efficient windows possible, the two main factors at play are:
The U-Factor (Cold)
Measures how well a particular window is insulated and keeps the cold out. According to the U.S. Department Of Energy, windows scale between 0.20 and 1.20 — the lower the number, the more efficient. For reference, good high-quality double-pane windows come in at around 0.30 or lower.
The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, or SHGC (Heat)
Measures how well a window you’re considering prevents heat from entering your home, especially in the colder season. The scale goes from 0 to 1, and most windows you’ll come across in the more mainstream market come in at around 0.25 and 0.80.
Here’s the graph from Energy Star that shows the criteria for our Northern Climate Zone in Southeastern Wisconsin/Milwaukee Metro:
As you can see, in our area we need to have the most efficient windows on the market in terms of both criteria! If you’re wondering whether energy efficiency is a good investment, this information should spell it out.
Depending on the state of your current windows, you will likely see a dramatic difference RIGHT away. And considering experienced, well-trained, in-house TightSeal professionals will be doing the installations, you’ll enjoy the benefits quickly.
Have Window Efficiency Questions?
If you’re in the Milwaukee Metro area and interested in upgrading to energy-efficient windows but have questions, connect with us! Our in-house office staff are happy to get the ball rolling and ensure you get the answers you need. Simply call (414) 895-4807 or use our website Contact Us form to leave a message. We also have a way for you to schedule an informative consultation with us online. Talk soon!