Optimizing Your Window Package – GreenBuildingAdvisor – GWC Mag

Windows and exterior doors are crucial elements of any building. They let daylight in while keeping wind and rain out, and they connect the building to the outside both in terms of access and views. They also cost a lot of money, can be a source of thermal discomfort, and have a significant impact on a building’s energy performance.

In this article, I will cover the most important features that make windows (and doors) perform better—or worse—and provide tips for selecting better products. These are lessons learned from Emu Passive’s continuous research in the field of building science, and the work we do on Passive House projects across the U.S. While you may not be pursuing a green building certification, you may find this information useful for your project.

Study findings

Some of the data referenced here comes from a study we recently published, “Emu Report On Building Standards,” which is available for free download, and on YouTube. We investigated 50 single-family projects in different U.S. climate zones, and compared the results in terms of energy efficiency, indoor air quality, thermal comfort, etc.

One of the more interesting results from the study was that windows are the No. 1 source of heat loss in a new home, about three times higher than all air leaks of the house combined (including air leaks at the windows).

Above are typical heat losses in a home according to the most recent energy code (2021 IECC), divided by building component. Here, the air leakage through the windows is grouped together with the overall air leakage (dark blue). The heat losses shown as “windows + exterior doors” (green) refer to the conduction heat losses through the window glass, frame, glass edge, and window-to-wall connection. Interestingly, the same breakdown also happens in…