Anyone looking into replacing their windows has likely come across the term “window grades”; a term referring to the rating given to a window based on its energy efficiency.
With many Irish homeowners aiming to enhance their home’s insulation and energy efficiency by installing new windows, understanding their specific energy ratings is vital. Aside from influencing sustainability efforts, choosing the right window grade can lead to significant cost savings over the long term.
In this article, we focus on window grades, explaining how these ratings work so that you are armed with the knowledge to make positive changes in your home – and to your bank balance.
The importance of choosing high-quality windows
Before we delve into the nitty gritty of window energy ratings, it’s important to first understand the importance of choosing high-quality, energy-efficient windows for your home. While this type of refurbishment undoubtedly enhances both the interior and exterior of the property, its benefits extend far beyond aesthetics.
According to the SEAI, you can lose a significant amount of your home’s heat through your windows and doors. Energy-efficient windows, on the other hand, help to maintain comfortable and consistent indoor temperatures, which in turn reduces drafts and colder areas throughout the home.
This reduction in heat loss has a knock-on effect on a homeowner’s heating bills, enabling significant cost savings.
From an environmental point of view, energy-efficient windows also come up trumps. High-quality windows facilitate improved insulation, which reduces energy consumption. This subsequently leads to a decrease in carbon emissions and a smaller environmental footprint.
Improving your home’s BER with energy-efficient windows
In Ireland, a Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate indicates the energy performance of a home, rated on a scale from A to G – A being the most energy efficient and G being the least. Installing high-quality, energy-efficient windows will have a dramatic impact on the BER of your home.
However, to increase this rating, it’s imperative to choose windows that will promote such an improvement. Understanding window grades is key to this.
How are window grades measured?
At a glance, Window Energy Ratings (WER) provide a standardised measure of a window’s overall energy performance on a scale from E to A++, with A++ signifying the highest level of efficiency. The rating is applied to a window based on criteria like air leakage, heat loss and solar gain.
This process is overseen by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), who evaluate a window’s performance through the WEP scheme. Each WEP rating label is specific to a unique window frame and glazing assembly from a single manufacturer, enabling customers to determine how well each window assembly will perform in terms of energy efficiency.
Selecting the right window grades for your home
To select the correct type of window assembly for your home, understanding the various window grades is vital. Here is a brief overview of how window ratings are calculated:
U-Value (Thermal Transmittance)
The U-Value measures the rate at which heat escapes through a window. Unlike BER and WER ratings, the lower the U-Value of the window the better it is at reducing heat loss and providing adequate insulation.
Many of our products, including the flagship Veka 82 PVC window, offer excellent thermal insulation and consistently score a low U-Value.
G-Value (Solar Gain)
The G-Value, also known as the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), indicates how much solar energy passes through a window. A higher G-value means more sunlight and heat enter your home, naturally warming indoor spaces and reducing the need for additional heating.
Air Leakage
Air Leakage refers to the amount of air that can pass through the window seals. Minimising air leakage is a crucial aspect of maintaining indoor temperatures and improving energy efficiency.
Other considerations when choosing your windows
Understanding the significance of window energy ratings is a vital part of achieving energy efficiency throughout your home. However, it is also essential to consider other factors that can drastically affect the performance of your windows. These include:
- The frame materials used – materials like PVC and aluminium offer excellent insulation and durability.
- Ensuring professional installation – proper installation is crucial to maximise energy efficiency and prevent issues like air leakage.
The only way to achieve a quality finish that will work on both an aesthetic and practical level for you and your home is to seek help from the experts when it comes to your window installation.
Some of our A-grade windows
Here at Caesar Windows, we offer a comprehensive range of A-grade, energy-efficient windows that can significantly impact your home energy costs, with just two examples below:
- CaesarPro (Veka 82) (PVC): The premium choice in our portfolio, delivering outstanding thermal, acoustic, and mechanical performance. Its Class A profiles provide durability, a sleek minimalist design, and expansive glazed surfaces. Additionally, by accommodating thicker insulating glass units, it enhances thermal efficiency, maximising the benefits of our high-quality glass.
- Cortizo 80 (Aluminium): a high-performance system offering superior sealing, energy efficiency, and acoustic insulation. Its slim frame depth suits passive houses, ensuring comfort in extreme conditions. With excellent AWS test results, easy assembly, and secure hardware, it’s ideal for large-scale production, blending light and security effortlessly.
Learn more about window grades and achieving excellent results with the help of Caesar Windows
Upgrading to high-quality, energy-efficient windows is one of the smartest investments you can make. It leads to reduced energy bills, improved home comfort, and an increased property value.
However, choosing the right supplier is just as crucial as selecting the right window grade. With over 20 years of experience, Caesar Windows is Dublin’s trusted name in premium window solutions, delivering exceptional craftsmanship and energy efficiency with every installation.
- We provide expertly crafted windows for superior performance: We partner exclusively with leading European manufacturers to provide top-tier windows that exceed Irish energy efficiency standards, ensuring optimal insulation and durability.
- Our windows come with a comprehensive 10-year warranty: Enjoy complete peace of mind with a 10-year factory warranty on all PVC and aluminium windows, guaranteeing long-term reliability.
- We provide tailored solutions for every home: Whether you’re renovating a period property or upgrading a contemporary home, we offer custom window solutions to match your style and insulation needs.
- We offer eco-friendly and energy-saving designs: Our high-performance windows reduce heat loss, lower heating costs and help shrink your carbon footprint, making your home more sustainable.
- We offer a seamless, hassle-free installation: From precise measurements to expert installation and responsible waste disposal, we ensure a smooth, stress-free experience with minimal disruption to your home.
- Our service is reliable, punctual and professional: We pride ourselves on delivering on time, every time. This means you will experience no unnecessary delays, just expert service from start to finish.
Contact us today to learn more about securing the right window grades for your home
For more information on our products and how they can improve your home’s energy performance, view our introductory video or contact our team for personalised advice. With our help, you can experience expertly crafted, high-performance windows built to enhance your home.