House Window Ratings in the Atlanta, Georgia Area for Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, or SHGC

As you look out of a house window at your Atlanta, Georgia area home, you probably admire the sunshine, greenery, and wildlife. Interestingly, however, that sunlight you are admiring also has some downsides. These downsides can negatively affect the inside of your home as heat and radiation from the sun pours through each house window.

First and foremost, the Atlanta, Georgia sunlight blazing into a house window can be responsible for transmitting a lot of unwanted heat into your home. The sunlight can also cause your furniture, flooring, and other valuables to fade, dry out, and decay. With today’s replacement window technology, however, there are ways to prevent the indoor heat and damage caused by sunlight.

To help homeowners in and beyond Atlanta, Georgia be more aware of how well their home windows will resist the sun’s heat, each new house window can be rated for Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, or SHGC. The SHGC is typically on a label that is affixed to every replacement house window before it is sold. If you can’t find a label, you can also ask window manufacturers about the SHGC of their windows and they should be able to supply this information to you.

Basically, SHGC is the measurement of solar radiation that comes through a house window. SHGC is measured as a number between 0 and 1. The lower the SHGC rating, the less solar heat is transmitted through the window. In northern climates where high heating bills are a concern, a higher SHGC can actually be beneficial because the solar heat helps offset heating costs. In southern climates, a lower SHGC is preferred. Most home improvement experts recommend an SHGC of less than 0.40 for house window replacement in the Atlanta, Georgia region.

As an Atlanta area homeowner, it is important to get a professional opinion about what your house window SHGC rating should be, especially if you plan to have new windows installed. Please contact Factory Direct Remodeling at our Kennesaw, Georgia facility today to receive a free estimate for house window replacement, as well as how this upgrade can significantly improve your energy usage. We serve all of Atlanta, Georgia as well as surrounding communities and counties such as Dunwoody, Smyrna, Gwinnett County, Alpharetta, Lawrenceville, Roswell, Duluth, Conyers, Marietta, Peachtree City, McDonough, Buckhead, Metro Atlanta, and beyond.