Energy Efficiency 101

Energy efficient windows and doors will save you money on your home heating and cooling bills.

There are some key energy efficiency concepts that will help you choose the best windows and doors for your needs. For more information on energy efficiency, refer to Sill to Sash: A Complete Guide to Windows and Doors  from the Canadian Window and Door Manufacturers Association or visit our Glossary for more related terminology.

  • Energy Rating System (ER)

A window`s ER rating is a measure of its overall performance, based on three factors: 1) solar heat gain; 2) heat loss through frames, spacer and glass; and 3) air leakage heat loss. All window Energy Ratings (ER) are evaluated in the same way.

  • Glazing

Is the number of panes of glass used in the construction of the window. The space between double- and triple-paned windows provides insulation. All windows should be at least double glazed with low-e to reach the energy efficiency and performance needed for the varied North American climate.

  • Heat Loss and Gain

Refers to the balance between solar energy coming into and out of a home through the windows or building materials. The type of window glass and the placement of windows can contribute to heat loss and gain.

  • Low-E glass

Low-E stands for low-emissivity. Emissivity is a measure of how much a glass surface transfers radiant heat.

LoE 366 (Cardinal)
LoE 366 – Is recommended when cooling costs outweigh heating costs in your energy usage, or where summer discomfort from heat build-up should be an important concern. This is the best glass for most applications in a southern climate. It has a very high reflection rate of the radiant outside heat to prevent heat gain in summer and in winter it still retains radiant once you turn on your furnace! LoE 366 has a lower Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) in order to minimize Solar Heat Gain that results in extra work for your air conditioning unit.

LOF (Libby Owens Ford) / Pilkington Energy Advantage
LOF – Pilkington Energy Advantage Low-E is the best glass for most applications in a northern climate. It has a very high retention rate of the heat in your home in winter and prevents heat gain in summer. Energy Advantage Glass has a higher Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) than Low-E glass designed for southern climates. It provides free winter heat for your home. Since as much as 95% of your energy expense for heating and cooling combined is for heating, this glass is more cost effective than other glass without a high SHGC.

  • Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)

When cooling is needed, the key rating parameter is the SHGC. SHGC measures how well a product blocks heat from the sun. SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The lower the SGHC, the better a product is at blocking unwanted heat gain. Blocking solar heat gain is particularly important during the summer.

  • Visible Transmittance (VT)

The VT is the relative amount of visible light transmitted through a pane of glass. The VT ranges from 0 to 1. The smaller the VT, the less visible light is transmitted through the product. The higher the VT, the greater the potential for day lighting to offset the need for electric lighting.

  • Condensation Resistance (CR)

CR measures how well a product resists the formation of condensation. CR is reported on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the number, the better a product is at resisting condensation.

  • U-Value

When heating is needed, the key rating parameter is the U-value. The U-value describes how well a product prevents heat from escaping a home or building. U-value ratings generally fall between 0.2 and 1.2. The lower the U-value, the better a product is at keeping heat in. U-factor is particularly important during the winter heating season.

  • R-Value

The R-value represents the resistance a material has to heat flow. It measures the effectiveness of insulation in stopping heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the heat resistance.

The Energy Star Program

The Energy Star program has become an international standard to help consumers save energy and money through the purchase of energy efficient products.

The international Energy Star® symbol is a simple way for consumers to identify products that are among the most energy efficient on the market. Only manufacturers and retailers whose products meet the Energy Star® criteria can label their products with this symbol. Choosing an Energy Star® labeled product over a conventional model could save you hundreds of dollars in energy costs

Energy Star Requirements

Because of the nature of Canada’s diverse climate, the country has been split into four zones to help you find the energy efficient products that best suit where you live. Zone A is the warmest climate, and Zone D is the coldest.



Similarly, the United States has been split into four zones: Northern, North/Central, South/Central and Southern.

Once you’ve determined the zone where you live, you can find the best Energy Star-approved options available for your region. For greater energy saving, consider installing windows and doors suited for colder regions than your own.

For more information on Energy Star performance levels, visit the Canadian government’s Office of Energy Efficiency’s website.

Energy Star

Government Rebate Information

 Thinking of ways to make your home more energy-efficient? Here`s what you can do to reduce your energy consumption and receive grants through ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is offering residential energy efficiency evaluations through licensed service organizations to owners of single-family homes, including detached, semi-detached and low-rise multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) that are no more than 3 storeys high. Also eligible are some small buildings of no more than 3 storeys for which at least 50 percent of the floor area is used as one or more permanent residences. Under ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes, property owners can qualify for federal grants by improving the energy efficiency of their home and reducing their home`s impact on the environment.
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Grants for Residential Property Owners

Before you undertake any energy efficiency renovations, hire a Natural Resources Canada certified energy advisor to perform an energy evaluation of your home. The advisor will give you a pre-retrofit evaluation report and an EnerGuide rating label for your home. Select your improvements and implement the recommended energy upgrades, leaving time to ensure your post-retrofit evaluation is completed within 18 months or before March 31, 2011, (whichever comes first and subject to available funding). Call your energy advisor to perform your post-retrofit evaluation, to confirm your new energy rating and to submit your grant application. Be sure to keep your receipts to claim expenses that could be eligible under the Home Renovation Tax Credit. Wait 90 days from the date of your post-retrofit evaluation to receive your cheque.
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