What Makes Glass More Energy Efficient?
As one of the leading window and door companies in the Okanagan, PlyGem felt it was imperative to participate in an energy-efficiency project, which would allow them the opportunity to support local industries and trades, while showcasing their products. Ken Grobowsky of PlyGem says, “Windows are typically the lowest R-valued product in the wall assembly, so everything we can do to improve the efficiency of the glass is important to enhancing the overall efficiency of any home.” The energy-efficient window is one of the key products showcased in the Wilden Living Lab and there are many factors to consider when designing the correct window:
- building orientation
- budget restrictions
- heating vs. cooling
- geographic location
The window featured in the ‘Home of Today’ incorporates PlyGem’s Vista Series white vinyl sliding windows with a double-glazed sealed unit and Cardinal Eco Grain 180 low-E coating, a readily used window design provided by PlyGem for homes in the Okanagan.
The window featured in the ‘Home of Tomorrow’ is PlyGem’s Design Series window, which is a vinyl window with a metal-clad exterior. This package incorporates a casement, crank-out type of window, triple glazed, with double Cardinal Eco Max 366 low-E coating. This is a more advanced window that will certainly improve the homes efficiency.
PlyGem hopes to identify the cost savings on glass improvement by using today’s standard low-E coating (double glazing c/w single low-E coating) versus triple glazing c/w dual low-E coating. This information will help future home-building customers make informed decisions on the glass used in their new home.
Click the button below to register for updates and to always stay up to date with the Living Lab Project 🙂