'Sunscreen' for Your 'Green' Home

by | May 17, 2011 | 8, Articles

<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font size="3" color="#990000">’Sunscreen’ for Your ‘Green’ Home</font></h2><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">(ARA) – Being indoors doesn’t always guarantee protection from the sun’s damaging effects. Just as sunscreen is critical outside to protect against skin and eye damage, the right protection for windows and doors helps to block powerful ultra-violet (UV) rays from causing irreversible damage to fabrics and furniture indoors.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt"><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/8b.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/8b.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div></span></p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">The first step for many homeowners is to invest in windows and doors with Low-E glass and finish exterior doors with a UV-stabilized polyurethane coating. </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">"Without the protection of Low-E glass technology, UV rays can damage furnishings, rugs and other possessions in the home," says Brian Hedlund of JELD-WEN, a leading window and door manufacturer. "When upgrading to energy efficient windows and doors, homeowners should take extra measures to make sure they are receiving these essential benefits."</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">To help protect a home from damaging UV rays, here are a few tips from JELD-WEN window and door experts to give your home a healthy dose of sunscreen:</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>1. Low-E glass is a must for a green home.</strong></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Low-E glass blocks harmful UV rays that cause interior fading. The ultra-thin metallic coating on Low-E glass works by reflecting heat back outdoors or holding the heat indoors in cold climates. It has the ability to allow visible light to pass through while blocking up to 99.5 percent of harmful UV rays. Ultimately, a home protected by Low-E glass remains comfortable year-round, and heating and cooling costs are reduced year after year.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>2. Doors need protection too. </strong></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">After staining an exterior wood door, apply a high-quality, UV-stabilized clear polyurethane coating to protect against the heavy beating it will take from the sun. When upgrading, consider fiberglass doors, typically filled with a polyurethane foam core, to create an ultra-energy efficient door that can also stand up to regular sun exposure. </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>3. Block powerful solar rays.</strong></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">The direction that windows and doors face can make a big difference in the sun’s intensity level inside the home. South- and west-facing windows and doors should have the highest level of protection. Window and door exterior overhangs, sized depending upon climate and latitude, provide privacy and block powerful solar radiation from entering the home while helping to reduce electricity usage and indoor temperatures by as much as 15 degrees. To naturally shade the home, consider planting more trees and shrubs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, properly planting just three trees near a house can save homeowners up to $250 a year in heating and cooling costs.<span>   </span></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>4. Focus on proven methods tested against industry standards. </strong></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Window and door manufacturers achieve energy efficiency in different ways, from Low-E glass to gas-filled insulating glass. The bottom line is to make sure the products are tested and certified for energy efficiency using industry standards, no matter what technology is employed. For the best all-around UV-resistance and energy performance, look for the ENERGY STAR label appropriate for your region.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/8a.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/8a.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">To browse windows and doors that meet ENERGY STAR qualifications and provide superior UV protection, visit www.jeld-wen.com or call (800) 877-9482.</p>  <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">Courtesy in ARAcontent</span></p></span>