Houston is a cooling-dominated climate. Your AC runs 8 to 9 months a year and pulls 50 to 60 percent of your electric bill. Old single-pane and bad double-pane windows let solar heat flood the interior and force the AC to work overtime. Modern Low-E coatings reflect 70 to 85 percent of solar heat back outside while still letting in visible light. Pair with argon-filled double-pane glass and a quality frame and you cut cooling bills 18 to 30 percent. This page covers the four brands we install, what ENERGY STAR actually means in our climate zone, and when triple-pane is worth the upgrade.
- Cost?
- $700 to $1,500 per Low-E opening installed in Houston.
- Savings?
- 18 to 30 percent reduction in annual cooling costs.
- Payback?
- 9 to 14 years on energy savings alone.
- Tax credit?
- Up to $600 per year on ENERGY STAR Most Efficient windows.
What actually matters in Houston: SHGC
In cold climates the metric that matters is U-factor (insulation against heat loss). In Houston the metric that matters is Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), which measures how much solar radiation passes through the glass. A low SHGC (0.20 to 0.25) blocks summer heat. A high SHGC lets it in. ENERGY STAR for our South-Central climate zone requires SHGC of 0.25 or lower. Many builder-grade "Low-E" windows have SHGC of 0.30 to 0.35, which is fine for Atlanta but bad for Houston. We only install windows that meet South-Central ENERGY STAR and verify the actual SHGC on the NFRC label.
Four brands we install for energy efficiency
Andersen 100 Series and 400 Series. Fibrex composite frames, high-performance Low-E SmartSun glass package. Mid-to-upper tier price, premium energy performance. The default recommendation for primary residences.
Pella Impervia and Lifestyle Series. Fiberglass and wood-clad windows with low-E argon glass packages. Premium feel, strong energy performance, lifetime warranty on frame.
Marvin Essential and Elevate. Premium fiberglass and wood windows with the strongest aesthetic options. Best when architectural appearance is the driver alongside efficiency.
Milgard Tuscany and Trinsic. Vinyl windows with high-performance Low-E glass. The cost-conscious option that still meets South-Central ENERGY STAR. Lifetime warranty.
Glass packages: what to spec
Double-pane Low-E with argon fill. The Houston sweet spot. SHGC of 0.20 to 0.25, U-factor of 0.28 to 0.30. Strong cooling-season performance at reasonable cost.
Triple-pane Low-E with krypton or argon. Adds noise reduction and marginal additional efficiency. Worth the upgrade near highways, airports, or for premium new construction. Marginal payback in pure Houston cooling savings.
Tinted or reflective Low-E. For west-facing and southwest-facing exposures with no shade. Cuts visible light transmission by 30 to 50 percent in exchange for additional solar heat rejection.
South-Central ENERGY STAR
SHGC 0.25 or lower verified on every window we install.
Argon gas fill standard
Better thermal performance than air-filled at marginal cost increase.
Low-E coating
Reflects 70 to 85 percent of solar heat back outside.
Tax credit documentation
Manufacturer NFRC certification for the federal 25C credit.
Foam-sealed install
Low-expansion foam plus backer rod for an airtight perimeter seal.
18 to 30 percent cooling savings
Documented in our customer follow-ups year after year.
