It’s a simple goal in modern-day home life -- keep cool in the summer and warm in the winter, while keeping energy costs low. The excellent thermal properties of vinyl windows make that goal attainable. The specially designed insulating airspaces in vinyl window frames – combined with their low conductivity – make them a formidable barrier to heat transfer. But their environmental performance in other areas also is impressive.
Vinyl window frames and sash corners are fusion welded for maximum strength and protection against air and water infiltration. Tests using the common measure of insulating ability, the U-factor, have shown that vinyl windows regularly outperform competitive products because of the excellent thermal performance of the frame. Warm air stays inside during the winter and cool air stays inside during the summer. Energy is conserved and money is saved when the furnace and air conditioner don’t have to work so hard to maintain the desired temperature.
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that replacing single pane windows with Energy Star® vinyl windows can result in an annual savings of $125 to $340 on energy bills.