A Quick Guide to Window Energy Performance Ratings – Part 1: ENERGY STAR® and the National Fenestration Rating Council

Choosing energy-saving replacement windows can be a daunting process, especially when you don’t know exactly what to look for. This is where ENERGY STAR® and the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) come in. They are the authorities you can turn to when making complex purchasing decisions for your window replacement. You probably already know how big an investment this project can be, and learning more about ENERGY STAR and the NFRC can help making these decisions easier.

ENERGY STAR

Established in 1992 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, this voluntary program aims to determine and promote energy-efficient products, including replacement windows. This helps consumers make more informed home improvement decisions , ensuring improved energy efficiency from their windows without sacrificing looks and comfort. With this, ENERGY STAR also seeks to reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Make sure your choice of contractor carries qualified replacements by checking for the white and blue ENERGY STAR label in your new windows. The label’s presence means your replacements have met stringent energy performance ratings set by the program.

Did you know? About 90% of American households recognize ENERGY STAR as a labeling authority in efficiency, making it one of the country’s most widely recognized consumer symbols. Keep its label in mind when picking new windows for your home.

National Fenestration Rating Council

The NFRC is a nonprofit organization which independently tests, certifies and labels products, like replacement windows, according to their energy performance. This helps you easily narrow down the most energy-efficient replacement units from the bunch, all while ensuring your investment can provide your home a boost in energy savings. The NFRC:

• Helps consumers understand the different categories of energy performance.
• Provides tips, tools and educational resources.
• Compares different products’ energy efficiency through a labeling system.

If you want your energy-saving windows to be exactly what they say on the advertisement, look for both the ENERGY STAR and NFRC label. There are many performance factors that can affect your purchasing decisions. Understanding which ones are vital to your specific needs and climate allows for a great starting point foryour project.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our blog series, where we go into more detail about window energy performance ratings.