Understanding R-Value

What Does It All Mean? Understanding the Terminology

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R-Value
You may have heard it before: R-Value. But what exactly is it and what does it mean?

Very simply, R-value is a measure of a given material's resistance to heat flow - how well it resists heat gain or loss. In short, the higher the R-value, the better the insulation it will provide for you.

R-Value and your Windows
Your windows themselves have and R-value. A typical window has an R-value ranging from 0.9 to 3.0. (To put this in perspective, the insulation that is used to build a home today has an R-value in the low 40s).

Several factors influence the R-value of your windows:

• Type of glazing material
• Number of layers of glass
• Size of the air space between the glass layers
• Thermal resistance of the frame and spacer materials
• "Tightness" of the installation

R-Value and your Window Treatments
The window treatments you select also have an R-value. The higher the R-value, the more insulating benefits you'll receive. Adding cellular shades to your windows can block as much as 62% of the heat transfer through a window pane¹.

Click here for the R-value of some of our window treatments.

1: according to Alliant Energy

Energy Efficiency  â€¢  Understanding R-Value  â€¢  UV Protection  â€¢  Cold and Warm Climate Tips  â€¢  Energy Saving Product Chart  â€¢  Seeing is Believing  â€¢  Saving Energy Around The House & More Resources

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