Vinyl Windows

Q: What is the origin of the vinyl window industry?

A: Vinyl window technology came to North America in the 1960's. The original vinyl windows were developed and brought to a high level of quality in Europe in the 1950's

Q: How will vinyl windows affect the appearance of my home?

A: Vinyl windows greatly improve the appearance of virtually any home. More importantly, vinyl windows maintain their beauty for many years with only a minimum of cleaning and care.

Q: What other advantages do vinyl windows have over windows manufactured from other materials?

A: Vinyl windows have demonstrated several significant points of undisputed superiority. For example, unlike many materials, vinyl does not swell or shrink when exposed to extreme moisture conditions. Vinyl has high insulating qualities and is comfortable to the touch in either sub-zero or tropical weather conditions.

Q: How do vinyl windows compare with windows made of other materials from an operating standpoint?

A: Vinyl's self-lubricating properties enhance its ability to slide. In addition, vinyl does not warp, twist, swell or otherwise distort its shape, so it remains easy to operate.

Q: How do vinyl windows stand up to extreme temperature conditions?

A: Marvelously well. The chemistry of vinyl, plus the manufacturing process, assures that vinyl windows will remain impervious to weather from the frigid Arctic to the sizzling tropics. Condensation is virtually eliminated on vinyl window parts. Heat loss through window members is reduced drastically due to the natural insulating qualities of vinyl.

Q: Why do vinyl windows have welded corner construction?

A: Welding eliminates air and water leakage at the vulnerable corners and holds the corner square and true.

ENERGY STAR®

(All Q&A information below comes directly from Natural Resources of Canada's ENERGY STAR® brochure - used with permission)

Q: What will I gain by buying ENERGY STAR-qualified products?

A: It's simple. In addition to helping the environment, ENERGY STAR-labelled products save you money. When you buy a product, there are actually two price tags. The immediate price tag is what you pay to buy the product. The second price tag is what you pay to operate the product over time. The less energy and/or water the product uses, the more you can save. These savings - both dollar and energy - can really add up over the lifetime of the product.

Q: Where will I see the ENERGY STAR® symbol?

A: It's on products and packaging. It's in brochures and advertising. It's on the Web sites of manufacturers and retailers. It's even displayed on many computer monitors during start-up or sleep mode. The ENERGY STAR symbol is featured prominently on the most energy-efficient refrigerators, clothes washers, dishwashers, gas furnaces, air conditioners, photocopiers, TV's and DVD players. Many other products meet ENERGY STAR performance levels. for a full index of current categories, visit our Web site at energystar.gc.ca.

Q: What makes a product qualify for the ENERGY STAR® symbol?

A: Products must meet or exceed technical specifications endorsed by the Government of Canada to qualify for ENERGY STAR. Requirements vary from one category to another, but typically the product must be from 10 to 50 percent more efficient than standard products to be allowed to carry the ENERGY STAR symbol.

Q: Where can I find out more?

A: For more information on ENERGY STAR and tips on buying energy-efficient products, visit their Web site at energystar.gc.ca.

The annual EnerGuide Appliance Directory also features useful information on ENERGY STAR. You can order it by calling our publications line at 1-800-387-2000.