ENERGY STAR CRITERIA FINALIZED

After several months of revisions and feedback, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the final Energy Star Version 6.0 Residential Windows, Doors and Skylights Specification.

The new guidelines in every zone except the Northern Zone will take effect on January 1, 2015.  Those of us in the Northern Zone get an extra year and will take effect on January 1, 2016.  EPA revised the implementation date for the Northern Zone in response to concerns expressed about the industry's ability to have cost-effective qualifying windows available in the Northern Zone by the originally proposed date.

The Northern Zone prescriptive criteria calls for a U-Factor at or below 0.27 with any SHGC.  Equivalent energy performance ratings allow for U-Factors of 0.28 - 0.30 with specific solar heat gain coefficients tied to the U-Factors.

Under the current rules, all Minnkota Windows products exceed Energy Star criteria for windows.