Segment 2: High Performing Windows
Triple-pane windows, with inert gas between panes, were used in this home. They have super-insulative properties that protect against heat loss and gain, which accounts for 50% of a typical home’s heating and cooling needs.
The windows installed in this house were manufactured by Alpen and have a U value of 0.17. The U value is the rate at which energy passes through an object. It is the inverse of the more commonly known R value, which indicates resistance to energy transfer. These windows are R-5.88. The R value of an old-fashioned, single-pane window is about R-0.9. By contrast, typical fiberglass insulation in a 2×4 wall is R-13 while insulation in floors and ceiling might be R-30.
