A notice to all of
you Central
Floridians
Look for my column
"Function First", in
the Orlando
Sentinel. It will be
appearing monthly in
the Saturday Home
Fix-Up section, usually on the 4th Saturday of the month.
BUILDING OR REMODELING?
Take a look at the new guide for creating a functional home. Finally there’s a tool to help you:
-
Select products and features that enhance the mechanics of daily living
-
Build a more durable, energy-efficient, and healthy home
-
Take control of the bottom line and much, much more!
Over 550 photographs and tips!
Sign up for notification of this new e-planning guide at
newbook@detailedsolutions.net
Energy Saving Window
Tips
The rising heat of summer is fast approaching along with rising energy bills. One component of our homes
that contributes to these costs is windows. As a matter of fact, approximately 25 percent of all the
energy used for space heating and cooling can be lost through our windows.
You can help reduce this loss through selecting ENERGY STAR windows. According to the EPA, ENERGY STAR
labeled windows, doors, and skylights are twice as efficient as the average windows manufactured
just 10 years ago.
 With
so many manufacturers and window types available, how can you determine what’s best for
your home. Fortunately, the NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) has developed standardized
efficiency ratings that are also used by the Energy Star® program. These ratings can guide you in
your selection of windows that are best for your particular situation. Here’s a short explanation
of the two main factors to consider.
-
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC):
This rating is a measure of the percentage of solar radiation that enters a building as heat
gain through a window, door, or skylight, a primary concern if you live in a warm climate.
The SHGC rating tells you how well the product blocks heat caused by the sun. The lower the SHGC,
the less solar heat is transmitted. For example, a window with an SHGC of 0.39 allows only 39
percent of the solar heat that hits that window to be admitted to the house; the remaining 61
percent is blocked. If you live in a warm region, look for windows and doors with a low SHGC.
-
U-Factor:
The U-Factor or U-Value is a measurement of the rate of heat loss. The lower the U-Factor of a window,
the greater its resistance to heat flow and the better its insulation value. U-Factor is of primary
concern if you live in a cold region. The NFRC tests for U-Factor in a simulated environment where it
is 70°F inside the house and 0°F outside. It measures the heat loss passing through a window from the
inside to the exterior. If you live in a colder part of the country, select windows with a U-Factor
of 0.35 or lower.
The Energy Star® program uses NFRC ratings to determine if a particular window qualifies for an Energy
Star® designation. The criteria for earning the Energy Star® seal vary from region to region. To find
the Energy Star® SHGC and U-Factor requirements for your climate zone, visit
EnergyStar.Gov
For a list of ENERGY STAR manufacturers visit
Energy Star Manufacturers
Here’s a way to further enhance the energy efficiency of your new or existing windows in the summer.
Have you ever heard of solar screens? According to a 1994 study by the U.S. Department of Energy,
shading the outside of exposed windows and doors is the best way to stop heat buildup. And solar
screens do just that by deflecting the sun's heat and glare before it hits your windows thereby
reducing the heat gain in your rooms. The U.S. Dept. of Energy and The Environmental Protection
Agency has reported that a home or building with solar screen shading can require up to 50% less
energy to keep it cool.
Solar Screens also block a large percentage of ultraviolet light, which means your carpet, artwork,
and furniture are better protected from fading.
These screens cover the entire window and can be removed in the winter when heat gain is desirable.
The photos below illustrate the appearance of the same house with and without solar screens. Note how
the screens can fit any door or window shape, even arched windows. The photos were provided by Sunblox®.
We recently had these screens installed on the West, East and South sides of our home. Even though our
windows are low-E insulated glass, the glass would be very hot to the touch and we could feel the heat
passing through them into the home. Although the screens haven’t been up long enough to give you any
numbers on the reduced kilowatt hours from this year to last year, I can tell you that the heat gain
through the windows has been drastically reduced.  You can stand in front of them and feel the difference.
Although the screens look dark from the outside, the view from the inside is not compromised.
Solar screens are available in a variety of screen and frame colors from various companies across the U.S.
Is there a subject
you’d like me to
cover? Let me know
by sending an email
to
tracy@tracystips.net.
All past issues of
this ezine are in
the Ezine Archives
on our web site.
Click here for Ezine
Archives !
Copyright © 2008
Tracy DeCarlo - All
Right Reserved
WANT A CHECK LIST OF
HUNDREDS OF TIPS
AND IDEAS FOR
DESIGNING A
FUNCTIONAL HOME?
If you liked today’s
tips you’ll love the
book
“Don’t Forget the
Linen Closets!”
It’s packed with
over 240 ideas and
reminders to help
you incorporate
function,
organization, and
efficiency into your
home without
breaking the bank.
|
To us,
it
[“Don’t
Forget
the
Linen
Closets”]
is the
most
thorough
guide to
building
a house,
regardless
of size,
in the
industry.
Most
importantly,
it is
geared
toward
the
folks
who will
actually
live in
the
house.
By
following
your
guidelines,
we are
confident
that we
will
have a
far more
functional
home
than if
we had
been on
our own.
Also, we
know
that we
and the
builder
have
saved
thousands
of
dollars
by
avoiding
rework
and
non-functional
design
flaws.
In fact
we have
dubbed
the
book,
“The
Home
Buyers’
Essential
Handbook
for
Design
and
Construction
in Less
Than 50
Pages.”
Thank
you for
sharing
your
thoughts
and
experiences
in such
a
concise
and
useful
way.
Bill and
Yvonne
Dunbar
Homeowners
building
a custom
home
Orlando,
FL
–
February
2006
|
If you’d like more
personalized help,
Tracy’s plan-review
service will walk
you through the
process in detail.
In either case,
planning the details
in the beginning can
save thousands in
the end! To
see more
testimonials and/or
to place your order,
visit
Detailed Solutions
WEB site
now.
WANT TO USE THIS
ARTICLE IN YOUR
E-ZINE OR ON YOUR
WEB SITE?
You can, as long as
you include the
following blurb in
its entirety:
Tracy DeCarlo,
author of “Don’t
Forget the Linen
Closets!”
publishes the
idea-packed,
monthly e-zine
“Tips for
Designing a
Functional
Home.” If
you’re ready to
learn how to
incorporate
organization,
function, and
efficiency into
your new home or
remodeling
project without
breaking the
bank, get your
FR*EE tips now
at
www.BuildingTips.net.
|
