If you are in the market for new windows, one of your considerations should be how they will help reduce your heating and cooling bills. While a strong seal and adequate insulation will help reduce your heating bill during the winter, it is also important to think about how your windows affect your comfort during the summer. If you have windows that regularly get full sunshine during the summer months, you should consider implementing one of these ideas to help reduce the heat in your home and make your home more comfortable. 

1. Select the Right Glass 

Usually when people are considering the insulation properties of windows, they are most concerned with losing heat during the winter. However, when purchasing new windows, you should be just as concerned with how much heat the glass will let in during the summer. This is signified by the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), which should be listed for all windows that you purchase, although some older windows will feature a Shading Coefficient (SC) instead. 

A low SHGC signifies that less heat will be transferred into your home. It is expressed as a number between 0 and 1, with standard double-pane windows averaging around 0.70. 

2. Get Tinted Windows 

Adding a tint to your window is one of the most effective ways to decrease the SHGC of the window. Tints come in several colors and can be applied during the manufacturing process or after window installation. However, if you are worried about the window tint blocking too much sun during the winter months, when sun can help decrease your heating bill, or if you want a clear view from your window, you should consider an electronic tint. Electronic tints, also known as smart tints, involve a small electric current that goes through special glass or a special film that is applied to your current windows. Generally, when the device is off, the windows are tinted, however, when you turn it on, you can control the amount of the tinting and even have completely clear windows. 

3. Add an Awning above Your Window 

Another way to keep your windows from letting in too much heat from sunlight during the summer is to add an awning above your window. Because the sun tends to have a higher trajectory during the summer, even an awning that only extends a little bit away from your exterior wall will help shade your windows. However, they will allow winter sun, which is generally lower in the sky, to continue to penetrate your windows. 

For the most control over how much sun is allowed into your windows, consider a retractable awning that can be extended during the summer and rolled back during the winter. 

4. Invest in Adequate Draperies 

Perhaps one of the most simple ways to control the summer heat in your home is to invest in adequate, layered draperies for each of your windows. Draperies should include a sheer layer that allows light to penetrate the room while blocking out a small amount of heat. They should also have a second, thicker layer that can be pulled during the hottest part of the day to prevent heat from entering your home. 

However, draperies are only effective if you pull them at the right time. For this reason,you should consider an automatic timer set to close your drapes during the hottest part of the day or set an alarm so you remember to open and close your drapes. 

A cool summer starts with quality windows that are able to keep the sun out of your home. However, it is important to consider combining quality windows with either an awning or a new drapery treatment to get the most efficient windows possible. To get started with choosing your new windows, visit a website like http://glasshopperaurora.com.