Energy codes are changing and creating challenges for builders who are trying to meet or exceed the new requirements.
Factors to Consider:
- U-factor, solar heat gain, and visible light transmittance are all important factors to consider when choosing windows for a building.
- U-factor refers to the rate of heat transfer through a window. It is a measure of how well a window insulates against heat loss or gain. The lower the U-factor, the better the window is at insulating.
- Solar heat gain refers to the amount of solar radiation that passes through a window and enters a building. It is measured as a percentage of the total solar energy that hits the window. A high solar heat gain coefficient means that the window allows a lot of solar heat to enter the building, while a low solar heat gain coefficient means that the window blocks more of the solar heat.
- Visible light transmittance refers to the amount of visible light that passes through a window. It is measured as a percentage of the total visible light that hits the window. A high visible light transmittance means that the window allows more visible light to enter the building, while a low visible light transmittance means that the window blocks more visible light.
Each of these measurements are important when choosing a window and door package. The staff at the Shepley Showcase are working hard to keep up with the new requirements and the various types of glass available to help you find the right windows for your project. Thank you!