In recent years, attempts to reduce personal carbon footprint have helped homeowners and builders to find a sustainable solution in fiberglass windows. Fiberglass windows demonstrate outstanding energy efficiency because they embody much less energy than vinyl, wood, and other composite window materials through low-emissivity coatings which control the transfer of warm or cool air from your home to the outside. Fiberglass windows contain between 60% to 85% silica sand, a raw material that is considered to be one of the most abundant resources on earth.
Turning silica sand into the molten glass frames involves melting and spinning silica sand into glass fibers and recycling the excess for other practical purposes. Not only are these windows 100 percent recyclable, they are also known for consuming 39 percent less production energy than their vinyl counterparts.
Stronger than Wood, Vinyl, and Other Window Materials
Fiberglass windows are also unsusceptible to many of the weaknesses found in wood and vinyl windows. Immune to dramatic thermal expansion and contraction, fiberglass windows expand at the rate of glass and do not chip, crack, or create leaking points for air to escape from the house.
Whereas the robustness of wood and vinyl windows may be compromised due to unhealthy thermal performances, you can be sure that your fiberglass windows will stay strong and fit in their installed positions for many years to come. Fiberglass windows are 8 times stronger than vinyl and 3.5 times stronger than aluminum.
As a result, you do not need to give your fiberglass window any additional reinforcement that may increase the weight of your window and the cost of its installation.
Safeguarding Your Window Investment with Longevity and Performance
The life expectancy of a fiberglass window is usually 5 times longer than vinyl. With virtually no upkeep on your part, your fiberglass windows are long lasting, which greatly limits their impact on resource depletion and embodied energy.
As Energy Star reports, “fiberglass frames are strong, durable, low-maintenance, and provide good insulation. Fiberglass frames can be either hollow or filled with foam insulation.” The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) further confirms that fiberglass windows have very low coefficient of thermal expansion. This makes them highly compatible with glazing materials, allowing them to be coated with multiple layers to enhance energy efficiency, durability, and cosmetics.
Fiberglass windows are not only energy efficient, but also practical in every way that matters. They are an ENERGY STAR® window solution and a popular choice for architects, builders, and homeowners who seek to create a LEED® certified buildings that have been approved by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Photo (top) by Fotolia/bonzodog
Photo (middle) by Paul Kazlov
Photo (bottom) by Paul Kazlov
Paul Kazlov is a metal roofing expert and has grown Global Home Improvement to be the Mid-Atlantic’s largest installer of residential metal roofing, saving the everyday homeowner money on energy costs. He has installed more than 1,000 metal roofs and more than 2 million square feet of standing seam, metal slate, and metal tile, helping the Philadelphia-New Jersey-New York area. Follow Paul on Twitter @PaulKazlov.
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