Window Design Considerations
Before selecting windows for your home, you need to determine what types of windows will work best and where to improve your home's energy efficiency.
First, it's a good idea to understand the energy performance ratings of windows if you don't already. Then, you can determine what energy performance ratings you need for your windows based on your climate and home's design.
For labeling energy-efficient windows, ENERGY STAR® has established minimum energy performance rating criteria by climate. However, this criteria doesn't account for a home's design, such as window orientation. For more information, see passive solar window design.
If you're constructing a new home or doing some major remodeling, you should also take advantage of the opportunity to incorporate your window design and selection as an integral part of your whole-house design—an approach for building an energy-efficient home.