BFRich Windows & Doors

B.F. Rich Windows & Doors
"Quality First... Service Second to None"

ENERGY STAR^®
The Most Valuable Label Anywhere. See It and Save!

B.F. Rich Window & Door ENERGY STAR Information


		Testimonial "We are so happy with our Cabernet windows and the Low-Maintenance glass. Every time it rains the windows look as clean as they did before they got wet. We are also very impressed with how quiet the house is now too. We will recommend B.F. Rich windows to our neighbors, family and friends!" The Rex Family Pennsylvania

$1,500 Residential Energy Efficient Property

Windows typically comprise 10 to 25 percent of the exterior wall area of new homes. Research studies report that windows in heating-dominated climates account for up to 25 percent of a typical house’s heating load and that in cooling-dominated climates, windows account for up to 50 percent of the cooling load.

In recent years, many technological advances have been made that significantly enhance the thermal performance of windows. These technologies include improved framing designs, foam insulated frames, improved low-e glass and solar control coatings, low-conductance gas fills and edge spacers, and better edge sealing techniques. These technologies can be used independently or in combination, but must be selected based on climate to optimize performance.

Windows can improve the thermal performance of homes by minimizing heat loss in heating-dominated climates and by minimizing solar heat gain in cooling-dominated climates. Thus windows with lower U-factors or higher R-values perform better in heating-dominated climates and windows with lower solar heat gain coefficients (SHGC) perform better in cooling-dominated climates. SHGC is a measure of the amount of solar energy that a glazing material allows to pass.

The materials and design of the frame also influence thermal performance. Low conductance materials, such as vinyl, perform better than high conductance materials such as aluminum. Additionally, insulated frames perform better than uninsulated.

Air tightness is another important consideration. Windows are tested and rated for air tightness.The industry standard is 0.3 cfm/ft (cubic feet per minute of air leakage per linear foot of window edge) and the lower the number the better. The best windows have a rating of 0.1 cfm/ft or lower.

An effective building envelope is a key element for an energy-efficient home. ENERGY STAR labeled high-performance windows that can improve the effectiveness of the building envelope and improve comfort.

To learn more about ENERGY STAR visit the ENERGY STAR web site.

The ENERGY STAR^® is given to windows and doors that meet or exceed federal energy-efficiency and quality guidelines, without sacrificing performance.

	Whether replacing windows in an older house or choosing windows for a new house, your decisions on what type of windows to buy will be among the most important decisions you will make in terms of energy use. Because of the impact windows have on both heat loss and heat gain, proper selection of products can be confusing.
To add to the complexity, window glazing technology has changed tremendously in recent years. The best window glazings today insulate almost four times as well as the best commonly available windows from twenty years ago.

Ask for ENERGY STAR
If you want ENERGY STAR, ask for it. When purchasing an ENERGY STAR qualified window or door, ask for products that match your Climate Zone.

B.F. Rich Windows & Doors is an ENERGY STAR manufacturer partner and offers products that meet the ENERGY STAR qualification criteria. The key is to ask for them.

Confirm the ENERGY STAR Label
Windows on display in showrooms should display an official ENERGY STAR label including the following information (examples below).

The ENERGY STAR Certification Mark
A map showing where the product is qualified

Official label for products qualified in all four Climate Zones (Northern, North/Central, South/Central, and Southern)

To meet this criteria with B.F. Rich Windows the product must have B.F. Rich's Soft Coat Low E glass and Argon Sure-Fill gas.

Official label for products qualified in the Northern Climate Zone only.

To meet this criteria with B.F. Rich Windows the product must have B.F. Rich's Hard Coat Low E glass and Argon Sure-Fill gas.

BENEFITS. High-performance windows can provide many benefits including:

Improved comfort. High-performance windows reduce conductive heat losses and gains resulting in warmer interior surfaces during the winter and cooler interior surfaces during the summer. In homes, approximately 40 percent of our physical comfort is due to the radiant heat exchange between our bodies and the surrounding interior surfaces. Thus, high-performance windows improve comfort by reducing this radiant heat exchange. In addition, improved frames reduce drafts and provide more consistent temperatures throughout the house.

Quieter home. High-performance windows often utilize multiple glazing and insulated frames. These features reduce unwanted noise from the outside.

Increased quality. High-performance windows are constructed with better quality materials that result in stronger, easier to operate, and longer lasting windows. As a result of these improvements, BFRich offers a Lifetime Limited Transferable Warranty, including Accidental Glass Breakage, on these products.

Improved indoor air quality. High-performance windows have air tightness ratings of 0.1 cfm/ft or less which reduce the amount of unconditioned air leakage into a house. This air leakage can bring in dirt, dust, and other impurities that can negatively affect indoor air quality.

Lower utility bills. High-performance windows are better insulated and more air-tight. These features reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling.

Reduced obsolescence. Based on recent trends for improved efficiency, high-performance windows are becoming the standard practice for the building industry. Since it is both difficult and costly to replace windows after a house is built, it is best to install high-performance products during the original construction. ENERGY STAR labeled homes constructed with high-performance windows are, therefore, expected to be less vulnerable to obsolescence.

Fewer condensation problems. High-performance windows stay warmer in the winter resulting in drier windows with fewer condensation-related problems. Condensation can stain fabrics, lead to mold and mildew build-up, and in cold climates cause damage due to the freeze/thaw cycle.

Reduced wear on home furnishings. Low-E coatings can block up to 94 percent of the ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun. This radiation causes curtains, window treatments, carpeting, and furniture to fade and wear faster.

Improved resale position. High-performance windows can provide the many impressive benefits listed above resulting in a more comfortable, quieter, and higher quality home with lower utility bills and fewer condensation and fading problems. These benefits can translate into higher resale value.

B.F. Rich Online ENERGY STAR Data can be found by product on their respective pages
Elite Cabernet Vintage Horizon Rich Vinyl 1000 Patio Door

Woodbridge Casement / Awning Basement Hopper

Have Windows Properly Installed
Proper installation is critical for achieving full product performance and avoiding water damage. Windows and doors should be installed by trained installers according to manufacturer instructions. A manufacturer's warranty may be void if the product is installed incorrectly.

B.F. Rich Windows and Doors promotes the AAMA InstallationMaster's program.

RESOURCES
Energy Star Website www.energystar.gov

Windows perform to their highest potential when the insulating glass has a high fill rate.
B.F. Rich fills their insulating glass by the use of Quick-Dose gas fill equipment.

B.F. Rich promotes and hosts AAMA

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Updated: 7/23/2010