Understanding Window U-Factor & Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
Peerless is contributing to the Net-Zero Energy Goal in Buildings by providing windows with the best overall design, frame, glass package, and spacer systems available. Here's a summary of U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient:
U-Factor:
- Definition: Measures the rate of heat transfer through a window, indicating its insulation efficiency.
- Range: Typically between 0.25 and 1.25. Lower values mean better insulation.
- Climate Suitability: Better for colder climates, helping retain indoor heat.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC):
- Definition: Measures how much solar radiation passes through a window and is released as heat inside.
- Range: Ranges from 0 to 1. Lower values block more heat from sunlight.
- Climate Suitability: Ideal for warm climates to reduce solar heat gain.
A window's U-Factor is its overall ability to resist heat flow; the lower the number, the better. With our G541 window, we can achieve a U-Factor as low as 0.14, which is one of the lowest in the industry. A window's SHGC, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, measures how much heat is transmitted through a window. Our windows can achieve an SHGC as low as 0.25.
Our windows perform well enough to be certified by the Passive House Institute of the United States (PHIUS), a non-profit organization committed to making high-performance passive building the mainstream market standard. Several projects have also received LEED certifications for energy efficiency. LEED is a certification regulated by the U.S. Green Building Council. The USGBC's mission is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.
For more information on how we contribute to energy efficiency in buildings, contact your area sales representative.
