The U.S. Department of Energy has released its final revised criteria for the Energy Star Windows, Doors and Skylight program. It went into effect January 4, 2010. The Department of Energy has played a key role in rapidly advancing window technology in the past few years. This program will help move these technologies into the marketplace, providing significant energy savings to homes and businesses across the country.
| 2010 Energy Star Qualification Criteria for Residential Windows, Doors & Skylights | |||
| Windows | |||
| Climate Zone | U-Factor | SHGC | |
| Northern* | ≤0.30 | Any | |
| =0.31 | ≥0.35 | ||
| =0.32 | ≥0.40 | ||
| North-Central | ≤0.32 | ≤0.40 | |
| South-Central | ≤0.35 | ≤0.30 | |
| Southern | ≤0.60 | ≤0.27 | |
| Swinging & Sliding Doors | |||
| Glazing | U-Factor | SHGC | |
| Opaque | ≤0.21 | NR | |
| ≤ ½-Lite | ≤0.27 | ≤0.30 | |
| > ½-Lite | ≤0.32 | ≤0.30 | |
| Skylights | |||
| Climate Zone | U-Factor | SHGC | |
| Northern | ≤0.55 | NR | |
| North-Central | ≤0.55 | ≤0.40 | |
| South-Central | ≤0.57 | ≤0.30 | |
| Southern | ≤0.70 | ≤0.30 | |
| NR=No rating | |||
The revised Energy Star program requirements for windows, doors, and skylights went into effect January 4, 2010. For partners to make the necessary changes to their product and marketing materials, there will be a transition period to full program implementation, scheduled to end on March 31, 2010, DOE notes. More details on the transition will be provided in the coming months.
*Northern zone windows can meet prescriptive (1st row)
or alternative energy performance (2nd & 3rd row) criteria
to qualify for Energy Star.
Minnesota homeowners looking to invest in new or replacement windows can contact your local window installation contractor. You will recover the cost of this investment in no time on energy savings alone.
Tags: energy star windows, new windows, qualification criteria, replacement windows, skylights, window installation