Is your home comfortable when outside temperatures reach -20°C? Or do you move away from the windows and doors to avoid a chilly draft or throw on another sweater?
MONTREAL, Feb. 28, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - If your window and patio door frames are made of PVC / vinyl, then you have made a wise choice that can reduce your heating bills substantially. According to Natural Resources Canada, homeowners who replace their old windows and doors with ENERGY STAR® qualified products can save 7% on their energy bills and buyers of new homes with ENERGY STAR® products can save up to 12%. Hydro-Québec says windows and patio doors bearing the ENERGY STAR® symbol are 20 to 40% more efficient than other systems. With PVC / vinyl doors and windows, your family can lounge comfortably, since vinyl does an excellent job of blocking heat transfer, making homes highly energy efficient.
PVC window frames and sash corners are fusion-welded not only for strength, but also for protection against air and water infiltration. During the winter, warm air stays inside where it belongs, and cool air stays inside during the summer. Energy is conserved when the furnace and air conditioner don't have to work as hard to maintain the desired temperature and that saves you money. PVC frames are also comfortable to the touch and resistant to condensation.
"When building or renovating your home, making the right choice of windows and doors will have a long-term effect on the energy efficiency of your home, avoiding costly replacement projects in future," says Montreal designer Piero Facchin. "It's a better return on investment to initially install PVC windows and doors that promise a long and reliable service life, particularly in delivering energy savings."
ENERGY STAR® certified products like PVC windows / doors are guaranteed to be energy efficient, saving on heating and cooling costs which result in a reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy generation and usage. PVC window and door systems help architects to achieve points in green building rating systems like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and Green Globes.
Vinyl is even more energy efficient than other systems, not only when it is being manufactured but also during use, an environmentally sustainable combination. Vinyl is the most widely used plastic for building and construction due to its strength, resistance to moisture, abrasion, rot and corrosion. Vinyl products never need painting and can be cleaned with mild cleaners. Vinyl products can remain in use for many decades and then be recycled, keeping them out of landfills where many building products end up.
Piero Facchin has 30 years of experience in architecture and design. He has a bachelor's degree from Montreal's UQAM school of design; a master's degree in architecture from Université de Montréal. He has also studied at McGill University, Harvard Graduate School of Design and Schools of Architecture in Italy. He runs his own architecture and design consultancy firm, STUDIOPROFIL in Montreal, Québec.
The Canadian Plastics Industry Association is the national voice of Canada's plastics industry, representing the interests of processors, material suppliers, equipment manufacturers, recyclers and brand owners across the country.
Pictures credits: Piero Facchin, M.Arch. Project by: Studioprofil Architecture Design (designed by Piero Facchin)
Image with caption: "PVC - vinyl windows and doors ENERGY STAR(R) certified - Photo 1 (CNW Group/CANADIAN PLASTICS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120228_C7895_PHOTO_EN_10487.jpg
Image with caption: "PVC - vinyl windows and doors ENERGY STAR(R) certified - Photo 2 (CNW Group/CANADIAN PLASTICS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120228_C7895_PHOTO_EN_10489.jpg
For photos, interviews or information, please contact:
Natalie Bibeau 514 803-1471 [email protected]
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