Understanding Solar Heat Gain Coefficient

Windows with good SHGC can have a big impact on your home’s energy efficiency and the level of comfort in your home. This is especially true for homes in areas known to have very hot summers, where every bit of heat reduction helps the HVAC conserve energy while keeping the home cool enough.

But what is SHGC and why is it important for you? Our window and siding installation experts in Hunterdon Roofing, Siding and Window Company, discuss SHGC ratings and why they are important.

What Is Solar Heat Gain Coefficient?

Typically, you will encounter SHGC in the good performance rating stickers provided and attached by manufacturers to new windows or skylights. Along with the SHGC, this also carries valuable information about the U-factor, energy rating and visual transmittance of the product, which are the requirements evaluated to obtain the ENERGY STAR® seal.

The SHGC rating represents a small fraction of the amount of solar radiation across the entire spectrum directly transmitted and absorbed by the glass portion of a window. This gives you an idea of the window’s performance in terms of how much solar heat and sunlight will be released inside your home. Basically, the lower SHGC glass ratings mean a window has less solar heat gain and, therefore, better shading capability.

How to Measure SHGC

SHGC is often rated on a scale of 0 to 1. 0 means heat is completely reflected or absorbed by the window, while 1 means every bit of heat passes through. Window and siding replacement experts say that a window should have an SHGC of around .3 to .6 to be considered efficient enough for the average household.

Benefits of SHGC Rating

1. Cozy and Comfortable Home All Year Round

The SHGC can help you in selecting the most appropriate type of windows for each room in your home, and therefore, prevent overheating during the summer and freezing temperatures in long winter months.

2. Protection From Harmful UV Rays

Windows without proper glazing and suboptimal SHGC ratings can put you at risk to the downside of UV rays. In addition, your furniture, especially those made of wood and leather, can also fade out, look weathered, and worn out faster when they are exposed to harsh, direct sunlight on a daily basis.

3. Lower Energy and Heating Bills

By making the SHGC rating work for your advantage, you’ll be able to optimize your home’s overall energy efficiency and cut back your energy consumption as well as your utility bills effectively.

Hunterdon Roofing, Siding and Window Company is proud to work with many quality brands so you can make the perfect choice for your new windows. All of our window brands meet or exceed ENERGY STAR® standards for energy efficiency, allowing you to make the most of your investment.

As a fully licensed and insured company with an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, we are ready to assist with your new windows. Call us at (908) 735-0809 or fill out our contact form to get a free estimate on your next job!