Energy efficiency is an extremely popular topic in today’s world, and socially responsible individuals and companies are finding ways to make their homes and businesses as “green” as possible. There are various reasons for this, including environmental concerns and significant financial benefits.
In the realm of energy efficiency and the sustainability of buildings, windows and doors play a significant role. Did you know that the largest energy losses occur at doors, windows, and external walls, accounting for up to 70% of energy loss? The replacement of windows and doors, as well as facade insulation, are among the first steps to improving the energy efficiency of a residential or commercial building.
The positive aspect is that more and more people today recognize the importance of energy efficiency in residential/commercial buildings and realize that windows and doors are weak points in the building that lead to cold rooms and increased energy consumption. The most common types of windows and doors available in our market are wooden, aluminum, and PVC. In this comparison, in terms of their characteristics, the most efficient is windows and doors made in a combination of wood and aluminum, followed by aluminum windows and doors, then PVC, with wooden windows and doors being the least efficient.
More details about each type of windows and doors can be found below.
Wooden Windows and Doors
A traditional material that has been used for centuries to make windows and doors, wood adds warmth to any interior. If properly maintained, wood can be very durable.
Maintaining wooden windows and doors is a bit more complicated and requires a lot of effort. Since it is a natural material, it has a high moisture absorption capacity, which has a negative effect on wood; additionally, wood does not respond well to all weather conditions. These negative characteristics can be mitigated if the windows and doors are clad with aluminum on the outside – but this type of windows and doors is extremely expensive.
What can be done in terms of maintaining wooden windows and doors is regular painting – coating with protection (products based on resin and varnish are recommended). Another important factor for the quality of wooden windows and doors is the type of wood from which they are made; it is advisable to choose windows and doors made of solid wood rather than laminated layers.
With all these characteristics, we can conclude that wood is quite energy-inefficient and requires a lot of attention, although it has high aesthetic benefits.
PVC Windows And Doors
This type is made from extruded vinyl through the coextrusion process. Due to a greater number of thermal chambers, low-emissivity glass, higher-quality hardware, and seals, PVC windows and doors achieve much better sound and thermal insulation compared to wood. Maintaining these profiles is very simple (cloth and mild cleaning agent).
The color of these windows and doors is extremely stable, resistant to weather conditions and UV radiation, so painting is not necessary, as is the case with wooden windows and doors. Although these profiles are very flexible – they are produced in various shapes and sizes – it is important to note that PVC has dimensional limitations due to the static loads it can withstand, so additional metal reinforcements with anti-corrosion protection are installed. Thanks to its cost-effectiveness and thermal insulation characteristics, PVC has become extremely popular recently.
Aluminum Windows And Doors
As we have mentioned in the past on our website, aluminum windows and doors are a standard in modern architecture. Due to their benefits, they are extremely present in all modern office buildings and commercial properties. Aluminum windows and doors are the first choice for large dimensions because of the strength, stability, and resistance to atmospheric influences provided by this material.
Although they are 30-40% more expensive than PVC and wooden windows and doors, aluminum windows and doors are extremely cost-effective in the long run. Above all, this is due to the wide choice of thermal breaks, multi-layered glass with gas fillings that significantly affect thermal and sound insulation. Therefore, aluminum windows and doors can be declared the most energy-efficient in this selection. Another benefit of this type of windows and doors is the wide range of colors and finishes, allowing us to have the aesthetics of wood with the efficiency of aluminum!
You can view the range of aluminum profiles at this link.
In conclusion, each of the mentioned types of windows and doors has its advantages and disadvantages, but regardless of the type of building, aluminum windows and doors are the ideal choice if our financial means allow for it.
