Whether you go looking for replacement windows or patio doors for your home remodeling project, you’ll need to learn how you check their energy performance ratings. These are important to understand their efficiency and how they can keep your home’s interiors naturally comfortable for longer. One of these ratings measures the product’s potential for gaining and losing heat, which is essentially how much sunlight it can bring into your home. This is called the SHGC rating, expert window and metal roofing contractor Hinkle Roofing explains how they’re measured:
How SHGC Works
In almost any window product sold in the market, their glass absorbs and redirects heat inward through conduction, convection, and radiation. To properly measure this, SHGC (also known as Solar Heat Gain Coefficient) is a standard rating used in the US to estimate solar radiation that passes through the glass surface. This is relative to the amount of solar radiation hitting the glass as it tends to be the primary method of energy transfer through fenestration products.
When you browse through several windows offered by a trusted residential roofing company, they’ll help guide you through the different ratings to help you find what you’re looking for. SHGC, in particular, will be affected by factors such as reflection, absorption, and transmittance. They’ll be expressed as a number between 0 and 1, and the lower the SHGC, the less solar heat transmitted and the greater its shading ability. SHGC is tied to visual light transmission (VT) related to how well the glass allows sunlight to pass through it. Therefore the lower the VT, the lower the SHGC tends to be as well.
Who Gives the SHGC Ratings and How Are They Measured?
The NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) is a voluntary program that’s responsible for providing SHGC and other energy ratings to qualified products. They handle all the tests, certifications, and labels for windows, skylights, and doors based on their energy performance ratings. When looking for an energy-efficient window, make sure it has the NFRC label so that you can determine its energy properties for comparison.
Whether you want a window replacement or a metal roof installed, Hinkle Roofing is your best choice to get the job done right. Call us today at (205) 324-8545 or you can also fill out our convenient online contact form!
