Energy Star
Energy Star is the current buzzword and because a product is certified as Energy Star is not a rubber stamp of exceptional quality.
We have already replaced window products that were Energy Star certified with our window system. There are companies that have been Energy Star certified or grand-fathered into the Energy Star program without having the physical testing done. They were allowed to submit the name of the fenestration supplier and what SU they were going to use. These individual testing numbers were then used in a computer generated program to qualify them for the program. Again, I must reiterate the actual complete window product was not physically tested!
When the Energy Star program was started. The advisors to the government were the big window fabricators who already had certification in the USA, which is the largest window market in North America. It is the view of many that the tendancy would have been to lessen the competition for the big boys by suggesting standards that suited their style of business best. This may be one reason that the payout on the Echo Energy Star Program has been so low. In my estimation, as much as there have been improvements in the program, the energy savings that quality windows can provide is undervalued. Based on the U value rating, it should indicate how much more funds should be available. When you consider that you can make such a vast improvement to your home through the selection of a premium window product, it seems silly to me to give people $30 to $40 per window improvement without a graduation of more money provided for a higher performing product.
| Fact: |
The Northome Window far surpasses government standards. |
| Fact: |
The U-value of the Northome Comfort Window is one of the lowest in Canada. It is lower than what is required for the Arctic. This means it is one of the highest insulating windows available in Canada. |
| Fact: |
The air-infiltration rating on our windows is one tenth of the acceptable air leakage rates to achieve the highest A3 government standards. Northome’s operating windows air leakage is one quarter of the acceptable leakage rate to achieve the highest A3 government standard on a fixed picture unit. Specification wise we have not found any system sealing tighter. |
| Fact: |
Northome Window’s far exceed the MAXIMUM testing standards on all aspects for CSA window testing. As the testing lab says we blew away all the maximum ratings. A3, B7, & C5 |
| Fact: |
The final test the windows are put through is what they call the “Blow Out” test where they put so much air pressure on the window it literally breaks the window. The test laboratory could not get enough pressure out of the equipment, even after modifying the equipment to break the Northome picture window. |
| Fact: |
All window testing is done indoors where the temperature is typically +20C (+68F). Where the Northome window really starts to shine in comparison to all the other windows is when temperatures start dipping below -13C (8.6F) and the benefits of the superior Santoprene weather-stripping really start to shine. At –30C (-22F) there is just no comparison. |
| Fact: |
The Energy Star program only rates product for energy efficiency not for strength, design for ease of operation, product longevity, warranty or supplier follow up and backing. |
These facts all add up to one thing.
Windows can be a once in a lifetime purchase if the right choices are made.
- Remember to look beyond energy star. Just because a product is certified and meets minimum government standards, does not make it the best choice.
- Look for energy efficiency along with design of construction. Ensure longevity to ensure years of trouble free operation and use a reputable company who will install, follow up and if needed service your windows.
- Northome Comfort Windows will help design your package, take the responsibility for exact measurements, manufacture your windows, install them and make sure you are happy with your purchase.
- You will receive customer evaluations after 1 week, 1 Year, 5 Year, 10 Year, 15 Year, 20 Year Etc.
- Northome takes great pride in what they do and how they take care of their clients.
- As they say “Don’t take our word for it ask any of our customers.”
When we started manufacturing our window system with the improvements we had made, we knew we had something really good. We decided to have our window product not just computer generated tested, but to go for the full physical independent laboratory testing. We packed up three large windows, one of each, a casement, awning and picture window. We had them shipped to Intertek Laboratories in Vancouver. Intertek is one of the four recognized labs to do this testing in North America. The major part of the testing is basically the CSA A440 test. Testing for air leakage is A1 to A3 rating with A1 being the weakest A3 being the best. Water penetration has seven levels B1 to B7, again the higher the number the better the performance. The product construction evaluation is structural strength and is rated from C1 to C5. Regardless of the letter, the best performance is the highest numbers.
When they tested our products we did not just meet the requirements to achieve the highest standards as they said, we shattered them.
As an example, to get the highest rating in the land for air leakage the CSA standard permits an air leakage on an operator of 0.1 cf/m/sq.ft. Our operator windows achieved a maximum leakage of 0.013 cf/m/sq.ft., this is ten times tighter than allowable. The CSA A3 standard for a picture window was 0.04 cf/m/sq.ft. Our picture window again came in at almost 10 times tighter at 0.005 cf/m/sq.ft. As you can see even our operator window sealed way tighter than the highest standards set for a picture window. The most astounding test was the final test. The final test was the destruction test, where they bolt the window to a wall full of air holes and apply so much air pressure to it that the window breaks. I was told ahead of time after they were finished testing our windows there would be no salvage because the windows would be destroyed, cut up, put in containers, and kept. Then, two to four times a year an auditor would stop in at our plant unannounced to verify we were still building the product in the same manner that the windows were tested. To me this was going to be the exciting part of the test, they were going to blow up our windows. I wanted to catch this on video so in addition to dropping a very heavy poly over the window to catch flying glass they also rolled a large glass wall between where we stood and the test wall. During this test their equipment was making so much noise it started to draw a crowd from different parts of the testing facility to see what all the noise was about.
While I sat there videoing I could hear the conversation of the crowd of workers, whom had come from many different areas of the testing facility due to the amount of noise being generated by the testing equipment, asking “what was going on” and one saying to the other “Dave can’t break the window!”
After shutting down the machine, making some adjustments to see if they could get more power, the machine roared again but they still could not break the window. I thought to myself well I guess I could take this window back and sell it but Dave the engineer running the test said no they would have to keep it and break it by other means for the container. He did make the comment that he had never had any windows test out as well as ours and definitely had never been unable to break a window on his wall of destruction.
We were and are still extremely proud.
