All Things Efficient

Have Questions about your Energy Audit? EnerAide can help!

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Windows

Replacing a window provides a perfect opportunity to cut heat loss from your house. Choosing the right window in the right location can harness solar energy to help heat your home. If you want to cut heat loss from your windows and doors without replacing them, weatherstripping and caulking around the frame can make a big difference.

The most efficient type of windows has the following attributes:

• triple glazing which is three layers of glazing separated by two air spaces

• airspaces between the layers of glass at least ½ inch wide

• airspaces filled with argon or krypton gas which insulates better than air

• "low-e" glass which has a coating that emits less heat

• wood or vinyl frames

• good air tightness

• casement, awning, or hopper style windows as they seal more tightly

For information on choosing the most energy efficient windows for our climate zone and where to buy them, visit the Office of Energy Efficiency website.

Heritage Windows

Removable acrylic storm windows are ideal for use in heritage homes in which original windows must be retained. These windows can be attached to the inside of your existing windows using a magnetic track. They add an extra layer of glazing and improve insulation.

InnerG acrylic storm windows can be obtained from the following suppliers:

InnerG Windows
Hilyard Place, Building D
175 Hilyard St
Saint John, NB
E2K 4V2
506.635.4991
sales@innergwindows.com
www.innergwindows.com

Harvest Energy Solutions Inc.
65 Pacific Avenue
Moncton, NB E1E 2G2
1-888-279-2202
Fax: 506-854-5581
info@harvestenergysolutions.ca
www.harvestenergysolutions.ca

Independent Power Systems (IPS)
206 Railing Rd.
Lincoln, NB
(506) 455-WIND (9463)
mark.arsenault@gmail.com
www.IPS-NB.com

Backwoods Home Energy Plus Inc.
581 Millford Road
Saint John, NB
E2M 4R5
(506) 638-9299
backwood@nb.aibn.com
www.backwoodsenergy.com

For more tips on upgrading historic windows, visit Heritage Canada's website.

Canada is composed of four climate zones that are based on an average annual temperature indicator called a Heating Degree Day (HDD). A Heating Degree Day is the annual sum of the degrees of the average daily temperature for all days below 18°C.

The sum is then averaged over a 30 year period which provides a good indication of a location's average temperature. The higher a HDD value, the colder the location is and the longer the heating season. Zone A is the mildest region in Canada and Zone D is the coldest region.

Look for the climate zone rating when purchasing new windows, and choose a window for your climate zone or colder to make sure you’re getting the most efficiency bang for your buck.

New Brunswick is in Climate Zone B.

It’s often unnecessary to replace a window unless the window is a single pane, or it has major problems of air leakage. A little caulking around the window might be all that’s needed to bring the window up to a good standard. If you can only replace one window, replace the least efficient one that is located on the north side of the house since this is the windiest side and the side where minimizing heat loss is most important.