Nowadays, homeowners also look beyond styles, designs and colors when purchasing windows. Performance and energy efficiency are usually major considerations. Of course, if you’re not well-versed about these things, it’s best to ask your contractor for recommendations. But to give you a general idea, if a particular window can match your needs, look for its solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) rating.
Why Does the SHGC Rating Matter?
SHGC ratings tell you how much solar heat can get inside your home once it reaches the window glass. The ratings range from zero to one. Lower SHGC ratings indicate that less heat is able to penetrate the home. Generally, you’d want your window to have a lower SHGC rating so that your air conditioner will have an easier time cooling your home or reaching the set temperature. But depending on where you live, the ideal SHGC rating would vary.
What’s the Ideal SHGC Rating?
Much like when choosing siding, the windows you select for your home should match your needs and local climate. For instance, if you do not frequently use air conditioning, a higher SHGC rating ranging from 0.30 to 0.60 would be good. But if you usually rely on air conditioning, it’s best to get a window with an SHGC rating that’s lower than 0.40.
Keep in mind that not all windows will indicate their SHGC ratings since not all of them are designed to be energy-efficient. Typically, you will only see SHGC ratings in windows that have an National Fenestration Rating Council® (NFRC) label and an ENERGY STAR® icon.
Twin Cities Siding and Roofing offers a range of services to meet various remodeling needs. We work on siding, roofing, windows, doors and more. With our experience in the industry, you can expect excellent craftsmanship from our team. Call us at 651-571-9557, or fill out our contact form to request a free estimate. We serve customers in Minneapolis, St. Paul and the rest of the Twin Cities area.
