Master the Certified Energy Auditor Exam 2025 – Power Up Your Energy Audit Skills!

The thermal performance of a window is influenced by multiple factors, and each of the components listed plays a significant role.

Frame material is crucial because different materials (wood, vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass) have varying insulation properties. For instance, vinyl and fiberglass frames generally offer better thermal performance due to their lower thermal conductivity compared to aluminum, which can significantly impact heat transfer.

Low emissivity (Low E) coatings are designed to reflect infrared energy while allowing visible light to pass through. This coating helps to reduce heat transfer through the glass and can significantly enhance the window's insulation properties, particularly in terms of preventing heat loss in winter and minimizing heat gain in summer.

Gas fill type refers to the gases used between the panes of glass, such as argon or krypton. These gases are less conductive than air, so they reduce the transfer of thermal energy, enhancing the overall insulation of multi-paned windows.

Since all these elements contribute substantially to the window's overall thermal performance, recognizing that they function together to improve insulation leads to the conclusion that the combination of frame material, low E coating, and gas fill type is what primarily determines a window's thermal performance. Thus, all of these factors combined establish the thermal characteristics more effectively than any single factor alone