The windows in your home do more than allow sunlight in and bad weather out. Whether you live in Southern California where you need air conditioning much or in an area where you rely on heat part of the year to keep you comfortable, your windows are an important contributor to energy efficiency.
Older windows, even if they are free of cracks, can allow costly heat and AC to escape, which both impacts your bill and your comfort; an average home loses up to 30% of its energy through leaks around doors and windows.
Your home forms an envelope that is broken by doors and windows; the better the seals, caulking, and weatherstripping around doors and windows, the less the “envelope” is disrupted, and the more energy efficient it is.
L&L can present a variety of window choices with properties you need to keep the inside of your home the right temperature and your bills in check. We offer both replacement windows that fit into an existing opening or new windows that need to be attached to wall framing or studs.
The best choice for energy efficiency are windows that have earned an Energy Star rating, which means the window includes these five features:
Windows that meet Energy Star requirements are labeled by the NFRC with numerical ratings that show performance characteristics such as resistance to heat loss (U-value) and how much heat enters the house (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient or SHGC). By replacing windows, L&L can help you cut your energy bill by as much as 50% per year, especially if you replace old windows with double-panel windows with low-E coatings that reflect 40%-70% of the sun’s rays.
Windows that feature low U-factors, which have a range of 0.20 to 1.20, insulate better, while those with low SHGV (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient) block more heat of the sun. The Energy Department suggests the following values:
| Climate Zone | U-Factor | SHGC |
| Northern | ≤0.30 | ≤0.35-0.40 |
| North Central | ≤0.32 | ≤0.40 |
| South Central | ≤0.35 | ≤0.30 |
| Southern | ≤0.50 | ≤0.27 |
Lower U-factor and SHGC numbers mean better performance. However, in Northern climates, you should be most concerned with the U-factor, while in the South, SHGC is the more important variable. Energy- efficient windows also have other standards that relate to R values (heat resistance) and VT (Visible transmittance) values (visibility.) Some glass is coated to improve its thermal efficiency (insulation properties).
Because California is a large state with a climate the requires more air conditioning in the south and more heating in the north, finding the right window can be tricky, according to the Efficient Windows Collaborative. L&L will walk you through the ABCs of window technology such as low U-factors, SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficients), and Energy Star ratings so that you select the best high-efficiency windows for your climate. In addition, we can even provide you with windows that can withstand hurricanes, earthquakes, and other storms.
New windows will pay for themselves as they not only lower your home operating costs but improve its appearance and increase its resale value, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Backed by an excellent group of window vendors, L&L can offer you a variety of styles and sizes of windows. Many older homes featured wooden framed windows, which are naturally insulating for energy efficiency.
Over time as they are repainted, they may have become hard to operate as well as develop cracks while letting air out. While wood is a classic material, many modern windows are clad wood combinations with wood on the inside and a more weather resistant exterior or are made of aluminum or vinyl. Whether you want to replace your window with the original wood or choose a frame that requires less maintenance, L&L can find the right window for you.
Our windows are available in the most popular styles, including single hung, double hung, sliders, casement, fixed windows, and architectural shapes. We also offer sliders in standard and extended sizes, along with skylights and entry doors.
Need new windows? Wonder how new windows could save you money and improve the appearance of your home? Fill out our online form or call us today at 760.345.8089 to setup a free, onsite estimate.
42121 Beacon Hill
Palm Desert, CA, 92211
