Understanding U-Value in Aluminum Window Efficiency

You will definitely come across numerous terms of a technical nature when choosing the new aluminum windows to your home or project. The U-value is one of the most important. The interpretation of this one indicator is the key to the major energy savings, increased comfort, and a decreased carbon footprint. This article will demystify U-value and give reason why it should be among the priorities in your decision-making process.

Definition of U Value

U-value is, as it were, a measurement of heat transfer. In particular, it quantifies the heat loss through a material, or a system comprising of materials, e.g. a window. Technical definition: The heat passing through one square meter of a building at a temperature difference of one degree Kelvin on each side (W/m2K).

Imagine this as a high U-value window is similar to a thin sweater on a cold day; the sweater is easy to get cold and then lose the heat. A window with a low U-value, on the other hand, is similar to a high-performance thermal jacket; it can effectively trap heat in and it keeps you wishing and comfortable. When it comes to windows, the U-value includes all the product such as the glass (glazing), the frame, and the spacer bar that provides you with a comprehensive view of the insulating performance.

Why the Lower the U Value, the More Energy-Efficient It Is

The correlation is more direct the smaller the U-value, the better the insulator is the window, and, accordingly, the more energy-efficient it is. The smaller U-value, the more efficient the window is in insulating against heat.

Windows constitute a major cause of heat loss during the winter. A window that is marked with a high U-value means the valuable interior heat would easily transfer into the colder exterior making your heating system get more active and consume more energy in order to keep your house at a comfortable temperature. This will result in increased utility bills and a less comfortable environment to live in with cold drafts felt around the window.

Low U-value window is a strong defense. It also greatly decreases the heat loss. This implies that your house is better insulated, your heating system is on less often, and you end up saving on your energy bills. This is equally true in summer when a low U-value window would ensure that the hot outside air does not find its way into the inside of your home and plague your air conditioning system. In the end, it is an investment in long-term energy savings and comfort in every season to select a product with a low U-value.

How to Choose Low U Value Products

To determine a real energy efficient aluminum window one has to take a closer examination than what the marketing claims. The following are the major considerations when seeking a low U-value product.

First, be careful to the glass unit or glazing. It is customary to have double glazing, though, triple glazing is better on account of a very low U-value. The insulation is commonly an inert gas such as argon or krypton that is placed in the gap between the panes and offers superior insulation. The finest glass is also endowed with soft low-emissivity (Low-E) coating. This invisible, transparent coating bounces radiant heat back into the room and allows light to penetrate it dramatically enhancing the U-value.

Second, look at the window frame. The current aluminum frames are thermal blocked. Each thermal break is a non-conductive polyamide bar placed between the inner and the outer sections of the aluminum frame. There is high conductivity and in the absence of this break, aluminum would be a good conductor of heat and cold. The thermal break is an insulator in the frame, thermal bridging is prevented, and the overall U-value is reduced considerably.

Lastly, seek the official U-value rating all the time. Their windows will be tested and certified by independent bodies (the National Fenestration Rating Council or other organisations like that). Never trust to a general assertion; and demand the specific, whole-window U-value of the actual product on which you are making a consideration. This is the certified number which guarantees you performance best.