PERFORMANCE DATA
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D&W Earthwise vinyl windows are designed to conserve energy and reduce your home heating and cooling costs.

The combination of vinyl's excellent insulating properties and specially designed insulating air chambers makes vinyl frames a formidable barrier to heat transfer. Plus, combining our HR4 Energy Package that includes: Warm Edge ¾" insulating glass with Low-E coating, Argon gas and foam filled frames will maximize energy performance. It is this combination of technologies that effectively decreases heating and cooling costs while at the same time minimizes sound transmission. Low-E also blocks up to 75% of the harmful ultraviolet rays which can fade carpets, draperies and artwork. In addition, Argon gas is six times more dense than air, and greatly reduces the transfer of hot and cold - adding even more thermal efficiency.

Tests performed to the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) method demonstrates the superiority of vinyl windows versus alternative framing materials. Vinyl windows keep the warm air in during the winter and the cool air in during the summer. In fact, using conservative national averages, upgrading to double glazed, energy efficient all-vinyl windows could save a homeowner *32% a year during the coldest part of the winter or the hottest part of the summer.

*All data is from the "Residential Windows" second edition. All U-Value and R-Value data is from Architectural Testing an independent testing lab.

Warm Edge Technology

Super Spacer warm edge insulated glass is an important part of the Earthwise window. Warm Edge Technology reduces heat loss and condensations build-up by interrupting the heat transfer at the perimeter of the glass. All D&W Earthwise windows use the Super Spacer warm edge insulated glass.

Low-E Insulating Glass Coatings

Low-E (low emissivity) Insulated Glass Coatings - Few things enhance the beauty of a home as dramaticaly as windows. For those who demand more from their windows, enhanced style and thermal performance, there's D&W's Earthwise Vinyl Windows with Solarban® 60 Low-E Glass.

In the winter, Solarban® 60 Low-E Glass reflect heat back into the room, blocking as much as 71% of the heat that can escape through conventional double pane glass units. Our Low-E also allows free solar heat to enter from the outside. The result is greater comfort at less energy cost.

In the summer, Solarban® 60 Low-E Glass block 50% of the radiated solar heat from entering the home, while the special coating reduces direct summer sun rays by as much as 13%. This reduces total heat gain, making it easier to cool the home in the summer which helps reduce summer cooling costs. Earthwise Vinyl Windows the Solarban® 60 Low-E Glass reduces sun damage and fading by up to 75% and provides unsurpassed Warm Edge Technology.

Additionally these well-insulated windows resist condensation and drafting, ensuring greater comfort.

Argon Gas Filled Windows

Argon is a safe, colorless, odorless, non-toxic, inert atmospheric gas which dramatically improves a window's insulating ability, particularly when used in conjunction with Low-E (low emissivity) glass. Warm Edge Insulating Glass with Low-E and Argon Gas have a 89% higher R-Value than conventional double pane insulating glass units. Argon gas filled glass units also reduce sound transmission by 3-4 decibels making Earthwise windows more efficient at noise reduction.

Hollow vs. Foam-Filled Vinyl Windows These two windows are the same except for what is inside the vinyl frames. The frame on the left is hollow, while the frame on the right is filled with insulating foam. The units have the same insulated glazing unit, with R-8 center of glass. The hollow window frame allows air to circulate inside the frame; this convective effect is observed by noticing the frame temperatures are cooler at the bottom than at the top. The foam-filled window doesn't show this effect. These windows are being cooled on the back side with wind at -15°C (5°F).

NFRC Verification

ENERGY STAR® Qualified Earthwise vinyl windows are 40% more efficient than the products required under the most common national building codes. An average household spends over 40% of its annual energy budget on heating and cooling costs. Installing ENERGY STAR windows can reduce those energy bills by up to 32%.

• Northern region must have a U-Value of 0.35 or below.
• Central region must have a U-Value of 0.40 or below.
• Southern region must have a U-Value of 0.75 or below.

In Conclusion

In choosing D&W's Earthwise windows you can be assured that you have chosen a product that will save energy on your heating and cooling costs. You can also be assured that Earthwise windows will fit your lifestyle, beautify your home and increase your comfort level.