The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) is a number assigned to a window that tells you how much heat that window lets pass into your home from the sun. SHGC numbers range from 0 to 1, and the lower the number, the less heat will enter your home. Thus, in hot climates a low SHGC is desirable, while in cold climates a higher SHGC is desirable. The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) offers reliable SHGC ratings for windows that they have certified.
Read about other window ratings, Low-E, U-factor, and Visible Transmittance, on ecomii.
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Learn about energy efficient windows in ecomii's Green Building center.
See the NFRC’s website for more on window ratings.
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