Navigating Performance Criteria and Standards
Criteria and standards included in the diagrams:
- 2009 IECC
- ENERGY STAR® (qualifies for the 2011 federal tax credit)
- Federal Tax Credit
- LEED for Homes®
- National Green Building Standard™
- High Performance Windows Volume Purchase Program
Increased attention to energy efficiency has brought about more stringent window energy requirements and criteria in building codes and ENERGY STAR. In addition, new tax incentives and high-performance programs are changing the landscape within which manufacturers set energy performance goals for their products. The diagrams below show the U-factor and SHGC thresholds of a selection of standards and programs that may differentiate energy-efficient windows in the marketplace.
Each diagram is for a broad region of the United States, corresponding to an ENERGY STAR climate zone and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) climate zones that roughly correlate. Please note that although they are shown together the ENERGY STAR and IECC climate zones do not match up exactly in all locations.
- ENERGY STAR Northern Zone / IECC Zones 5, 6, 7, 8»
- ENERGY STAR North-Central Zone / IECC Zone 4»
- ENERGY STAR South-Central Zone / IECC Zone 3»
- ENERGY STAR Southern Zone / IECC Zone 1, 2»