Picking the Right SHGC Rating for Your Windows

A window’s SHGC or solar heat gain coefficient tells you how effectively it can reduce the amount of solar heat getting into your home. That said, you’d want to get a window with the lowest SHGC right? According to window replacement experts, that isn’t always the case. Here is a quick guide on the SHGC and picking a suitable rating for your home.

Understanding the Rating System

Before you start looking around for windows, you need to understand how SHGC is measured. This factor is shown as a value between 0 and 1. The higher the value, the more heat passes through your window. In most cases, a rating of anything up to .6 is considered energy efficient, but can you go too high or too low in that range?

When to Go Low

Window and roof replacement experts say that while a very low SHGC is great for summer, you can’t always pick the lowest option. This is because come winter season, you’ll need natural heat from the sun to help your HVAC keep your home warm enough. A low SHGC rating of .3 or lower is great mostly for homes with a generally warm climate since the extra heat will rarely come in handy.

When to Go Higher

If your local climate has its share of very cold winters, you can go for windows with a higher SHGC. Windows with a rating of around .5 to .6 will help keep your home warm during winter while still being efficient enough to provide significant heat reduction during the warmer months of the year.

A Balanced Rating

Because it’s relatively easier to keep the home cool than warm, homes in areas with equal amounts of cold and warm weather should favor windows with a generally low SHGC rating. According to exterior renovations experts, a rating of .3 to .4 should be good enough for homes in areas with mild climates all year round.

Need help picking windows with the right SHGC? Let us help you out. Hunterdon Roofing, Siding and Window Company is the leading home exterior contractor in the area. You can contact us at (908) 735-0809 or fill out this contact form to request a quote.