California Replacement Window Tips

The cost of living in California is so high that you want to save money any way you can. Windows account for up to 30% of your energy consumption annually. Good energy efficient windows specific to your climate area can really help you see substantial savings.

Before deciding on replacement windows, the first thing you want to do is figure out what geographical zone you live in. EnergyStar created a geographical climate map broken up into 4 zones (Northern, North-Central, Southern, South-Central) to help customers find products that are energy efficient for their climate area. California is a state that’s has 2 zones (North-Central and South-Central).  Below is a snapshot of the map from EnergyStar.

After knowing what zone you live in, you want to find a product with an NFRC rating specific to that climate area. NFRC is an independent rating standard that rates windows on U-Factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, Air Leakage, and Visible Transmittance. You can find out how well a window will perform in the area you live in by understanding its NFRC rating label. And as long as you buy windows with ratings specific to your climate area, you will save on energy.

Another factor is how well the window is manufactured, and out of what is made from. In other words, what material is used to construct the frame. For example, vinyl windows are the most popular among homeowners most likely because of their low cost. Because vinyl is not a conductor, which means heat or coolness will not pass through the material, they’re considered energy efficient. But, compared to a fiberglass frame which is more durable, and less of a conductor, they are not as energy efficient.

Almost every product material has its plus and minuses, and there are some choices to consider before making a purchase. If you were someone who’s not into researching products, my opinion for replacement windows in California would be to choose double pane fiberglass windows that are NFCR rated for your area, from a well-known manufacturer. You can’t go wrong with that choice, and will see a substantial reduction in energy consumption, especially if you’re upgrading from non energy efficient windows.

Below we will explain how to read and understand the NFRC label.

NFRC Ratings for California

North Central Region (Yellow)

South Central Region (Orange)

NFRC Rating Label Examples for California

The label example to the right shows a window that will work for the North Central Region. We know this because if you look at the label you’ll see its U-factor is 0.27 its The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) is 0.40, and its Air Leakage is ≤ 0.30. By looking at the table above, you will see that it fits into its recommendations.

The label below also shows a window that will perform well for the South Central Regional area. It has a U-factor of 0.20, a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 0.25 and an Air Leakage of ≤ 0.30. By looking at the table above, you will see that a window with an NFRC label like this will work for California's South Central Climate Region.