The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently updated and released the Energy Star Most Efficient criteria for 2013 and a proposed version of it for 2014. The Energy Star Most Efficient will cover 11 products categories including residential windows.
For window replacements to be eligible for Energy Star label, residential replacement windows must be consistent with both the Energy Star Partner Commitments and version 5.0 of the Energy Star Program Requirements Eligibility Criteria for Windows. As well, residential replacement window’ performances, such as U-factor for insulation and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), must be approved by a licensed professional recognized by the EPA. Residential replacement windows must also meet the North American Fenestration Standard (NAFS) with a performance rating of less than or equal to 15.
The following table are the criteria for Energy Star qualified windows:
|
U.S. Zone |
U-factor |
SHGC |
| Northern |
≤ 0.20 |
≥ 0.20 |
| Northern-Central |
≤ 0.20 |
≤ 0.40 |
| South-Central |
≤ 0.20 |
≤ 0.25 |
| South |
≤ 0.20 |
≤ 0.25 |
By: Paul Doh