Construction professional Michael Lelasher served as the vice president of Cardinal Builders for six years. In this position, Michael "Mike" Lelasher supported the Columbus, Ohio, company in providing high-quality home renovations, such as doors, roofing, and replacement windows.
Because a house loses much of its heat through windows and doors, inefficient fittings can be costly. According to research from the Department of Energy, heat gain and loss from windows accounts for 25 to 30 percent of the heating and cooling energy use in a home. If you choose to replace your old windows, look for the words ENERGY STAR on the new windows, then read the ratings on the energy performance label from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).
If you live in a cold climate, consider windows with a special coatings that reduce heat loss. In warm climates, windows with coatings can reduce heat gain. A window’s U-factor measures its thermal resistance or how fast it conducts nonsolar heat flow. In cold climates, choose a low U-factor.

