Windows are an important part of any home, letting in light and providing views while sealing out harsh outdoor weather. Due to changes that are part of the latest National Building Code -- a tested and recommended set of codes that becomes law when a province adopts it -- windows installed in new homes will need the latest materials, multiple layers of glass and special coatings for energy efficiency.
Glen Janiszewski, director of marketing deliverables with Ply Gem, says compared with windows installed in new homes 20, 30 or 40 years ago, the windows the company manufactures today are much more energy efficient. He says it's all about the glass. "The majority of heat loss is going to go through the glass," he says, which is why windows went from single-pane sliding glass in the old days to double pane and now triple-pane units.
Various coatings applied to the glass -- layers known as Low E, or by brand names such as Ply Gem's Eco Glass or Eco Shield -- significantly boost energy efficiency, while the use of an inert gas such as argon in between glass layers further reduces heat transfer.
Janiszewski says in very cold climates, the right choice might be windows with coatings designed to allow solar heating in winter, basically giving a home free heat. In a sunny locale, the window coatings are designed to reduce the intrusion of solar energy and prevent homes from overheating, he says.
In the end, improved comfort might be what buyers of new homes with more efficient windows notice the most. On a nippy winter day, there won't be the cold draft near a triple-pane window that you might have in an older home. Janiszewski says during summer, homeowners will be able to enjoy the real point of a window.
"If you have a beautiful home with a fine... view, you don't have to close the blinds to avoid heating up your home."
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