earthwise windows Archives - Advanced Window Products

Why Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows Are The Only Way to Go

Posted on December 15, 2014August 27, 2025 by import

Energy Efficient Windows and Your Home

If your home’s windows were installed years ago, chances are they’re not energy efficient. This means you’re likely paying more on energy bills from having to run your furnace or air conditioner frequently. Older windows could also be costing you in terms of needing maintenance or repairs done. Keep in mind that your home value is also lower when you have drafty old windows instead of energy efficient ones. This might not affect you now, but it will when you decide to sell your home. You can change all of this by having energy efficient windows installed on your Salt Lake City home.

What Are Energy Efficient Windows?

Energy efficient windows are ones that are designed to keep heated air inside your home when it’s cold out and prevent heat from getting into your home during Utah’s hot summers. This leads to reduced energy bills and several other benefits. The best energy efficient windows are compliant with the Energy Star program, which holds these products to strict standards. In order to be considered compliant Energy Star windows, these products must meet the following criteria:

Be made by an Energy Star partner
Undergo independent testing and receive certification from the National Fenestration Rating Council
Receive NFRC ratings that meet the Department of Energy’s energy efficiency guidelines

Energy efficient windows have several features that allow them to block hot air from outside and trap hot air inside, including:

High-quality vinyl frames: These frames are often insulated and made from vinyl that holds up well to ultraviolet light exposure.
Multiple panes: Having more than one pane of glass provides higher energy savings and a number of other benefits.
Low-e glass: Low-emissivity coatings only allow very low amounts of heat to pass through windows. They also reflect a higher percentage of heat from outside, which keeps it from entering through the window.
Gas fills: This refers to inert gas between the window panes that helps block heat flow.
Warm edge spacers: These provide barriers in the frame, that protect against heat loss.

When choosing energy efficient replacement windows, you’ll need to consider performance criteria, which varies by geographical location. For our area, that means finding windows that are able to keep your home considerably warmer in winter.

Facts About Energy Efficient Windows

Energy efficient windows have a performance rating that indicates how well they perform in the following categories:

U-Factor: This indicates how much insulation the window provides based on the rate of heat transfer. Lower U-factors are associated with better insulation.
Solar Heat Gain coefficient: This indicates how effectively the window prevents the sun’s heat from entering your home. Lower SHGC rates are associated with lower levels of solar heat.
Visible transmittance: This indicates how much sunlight is able to come through the window. Higher VT rates mean better lighting.
Air leakage: This indicates how much air is able to get through the window joints. Lower AL values mean less air passes through.
Condensation resistance: This indicates how resistant the window is to moisture building up. Higher values mean less condensation.

Click the image to download our energy efficient window buying guide.

Benefits of Double Pane Energy Efficient Windows

Double pane energy efficient windows offer several advantages over single pane windows, including:

Higher savings and lower energy use: Having these windows installed means you don’t have to run your air conditioner or furnace as much, leading to lower utility bills throughout the year.
Improved comfort: These windows provide your home with a more comfortable air temperature all year round. In summer, they help keep cool air inside and hot air outside. During winter, they prevent drafts from outside and help trap heated air indoors.
Reduced condensation: Double pane windows have a lower risk of moisture buildup, which means there’s a lower risk of having mites or mold grow. If you or someone else in your home has a respiratory condition, reducing the risk of condensation with double pane windows can lead to fewer health problems.
Reduced fading: Sunlight can cause carpeting and upholstery to fade over time. With double pane windows, most of those damaging rays are blocked, leading to a lower risk of fading or discoloring.
Increased light and view: Double pane windows allow more light to pass through without also letting in more heat.

Window Replacement in Salt Lake City, Utah

Replacing windows is a major project that requires thorough knowledge on how to do it safely. Otherwise, you could end up damaging your home or running into problems again with drafts if your new windows aren’t properly installed. Instead of taking this risk, have our window installation professionals do it for you. When you hire Advanced Window Products to handle your energy efficient window installation, you’ll be getting the following benefits:

Safe window removal
Customized options for the design and manufacturing process of your new energy efficient windows
Proper window installation and finishing that includes applying insulating features and leveling to ensure that the frame fits securely
Thorough cleanup
Limited lifetime warranty
Assistance with receiving tax credits and rebates
Offers of no-interest financing

Utah Company Helping to Bring Clean Water to Ghana

Posted on October 15, 2014August 27, 2025 by import

Advanced Window Products, Utah’s #1 window replacement company, takes on projects of all sizes—no window project is out of their capacity. They are a manufacturer, installer, and servicer of windows, working in Utah and up to Idaho and Wyoming. This all-in-one company eliminates any hassle for their customers, and now they are looking to not only eliminate poor window conditions, but also poor living conditions. Advanced Window Products believes in building a better community and giving back both locally and globally to positively change lives all over the world.

They are now sending some of their award-winning service overseas to Ghana. Nick Orchard, son of Advanced Window Products owner Dave Orchard, co-founded the Zenith International Charity (ZIC), a charity focused on helping the underdeveloped villages in Ghana strive for a better community and become more self-sufficient. ZIC wants to see that these Ghanaian villages get the resources needed to increase their standard of living and eventually become completely independent.

The idea of starting ZIC came to Nick after he completed a 2-year mission in Ghana. He realized that he still had a lot to offer and really believed he could improve the community in which he was staying. Thus, Nick pulled together some of the committed Ghana citizens and created ZIC.

AWP is proud to say that they are the primary contributors to ZIC, and the company is really looking forward to seeing the impact that it can make on an overseas community with the help of Nick.

Bringing Clean Water to Ghana

One of the most widespread issues in Ghana is their substantial lack of clean water. According to WaterAid UK, 3.3 million people in the Ghana communities lack an improved water source, and 86% don’t even have access to improved sanitation. The most tragic statistic of them all—over 3,000 children under the age of five die annually due to poor water and sanitation.

Many Ghanaians suffer from waterborne diseases that they are unable to prevent and provide treatment for. The biggest problem is diarrhea, which can further dehydrate a person, causing a vicious cycle. 25% of deaths in Ghanaian children under the age of 5 are caused by diarrhea. The infant mortality rate is also a big problem caused by health complications due to lack of clean water. The infant mortality rate in Ghana is 5% compared to just .6% in the US. Many times, a Ghana family will spend hours every day walking to collect water from a muddy pit that is also used by animals, carrying heavy buckets over long distances in the hot sun. This has to be done because many water supplies will dry up once dry season hits. Therefore, Ghana, with widespread disease and 25 million people to look after, is in dire need of help from charities like ZIC.

Zenith International Charity Completes First Project

ZIC strives to make Ghanaian villages more sustainable, and they have completed their first project which does just that. ZIC and the citizens of the Ekorso village in Ghana have built a water-well, successfully giving the entire village access to clean water due to a substantially subsidized price that makes the water affordable to all community members. The well will be managed by village leaders, who are more than capable of handling such a task. “The people we work with have an equal amount of ability and intelligence as we; they have just been deprived of opportunity and resources,” says Nick Orchard.

The water-well serves as a source of employment for the villagers, and it is already generating revenue for the Ekorso community, which is used for wages, maintenance of the well, and investing in future projects. Each village agrees to contribute excess revenue back into future ZIC projects to help expand the availability of clean water in Ghana. Therefore, every community involved will be making a difference in their neighboring villages.

Advanced Window Products Makes a Large-Scale Difference

Click the Photo to DONATE and Help Bring Clean Water to the People of Ghana

Advanced Window Products’s contributions to ZIC are vital to the degree of success that is achieved in creating wells for the communities of Ghana. In addition to making a difference in other parts of the world, Advanced Window Products is also making a difference in the US by being an Earthwise company. They are teamed up with 16 other window manufacturers that are focused on reducing America’s carbon footprint by developing windows that progressively reduce a household’s energy usage.

In addition to being a large contributor to ZIC, Advanced Window Products is also a regular contributor to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a widely recognized organization that grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses. At the 2013 fundraiser in Salt Lake City, Advanced Window Products took part in granting 115 wishes to the children of the organization.

They have taken under their wing a boy named Alex who is 4 years old and battles with Leukemia. Advanced Window Products is working with the Make-A-Wish foundation to make sure that Alex is sent on a dream vacation with his family to give them lasting memories and hope for the future. Buying from Advanced Window Products also helps us to support Make-A-Wish.

Another good cause that Advanced Window Products takes part in is the Habitat for Humanity Program in Salt Lake Valley. Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit that seeks to eliminate substandard housing and homelessness throughout the world. Salt Lake Valley is the largest Habitat for Humanity affiliate, building neighborhoods and changing lives one house at a time.

This all means that each customer of Advanced Window Products is contributing to making a difference for families in Ghana, as well as reducing their own carbon footprints, something that anyone would be proud to take part in. Everyone who is a part of Advanced Window Products, staff and customers alike, is a contributor to creating a large-scale difference in suffering areas of the world. In this sense, business truly does become personal.

The Anatomy of an Energy Efficient Window

Posted on August 22, 2014August 27, 2025 by import

Breaking Down the Different Window Components

A window does more than bring in sunlight; it also helps control the energy efficiency of a home. Each component of the window determines the functionality and efficiency of the window. These are the basics of components of a home window.

High Efficiency Window Glass

The glass in the window is the most fragile component, but the structure of the glass determines the insulation against the elements along with the clarity. We offer three main types of glass coatings for proper window fitting.

The LoE-366 has three layers of silver within the glass. It prevents discoloration of fabrics within a direct line of the window by keeping 95 percent of harmful UV rays from entering a home through the window. The LoE-366 also keeps humidity levels at a comfortable range.

We also have the LoE-i81 for double pane windows. This glass coating works well in homes that focus on solar energy and are energy efficient, as well as south-facing windows. The coating is thin enough to allow for a clear view.

The LoE²-270 is one of our most versatile glass coatings. We offer the glass in air and argon fill. The air fill maintains a temperature of 49 degrees F and 58 degrees F when the outside temperatures fall between -20 degrees F and 20 degrees F. The argon fill maintains warmer levels between 52 degrees F and 60 degrees F.

Window Frame Material

We offer windows in only the most durable of frame materials. Vinyl frames use a synthetic plastic material (PVC) to prevent UV penetration while holding the glass in place. Vinyl makes for easy cleaning and upkeep, and there is no need to paint the frame.

Metal and wood frames tend to need extra insulation. The structure is very basic, and it gaps between the frame and the wall need caulk or another material. These frames are more affordable and basic for easy installation.

Composite material is mix of materials usually involving laminate and other plastics. These retain their structure and hold up against the elements better than wood or metal frames.

Window Hardware

In order to make the window open and adjust, a range of window hardware exists. Hinges, pivots and pulls enable a section of the window to raise halfway or slide from one side. We even offer windows with the hinge capability to push out for a larger breeze and an easy way to save on energy costs.

Window Grid Styles

The grid style is the pattern of the window. Grids divide the window with a mounting or typically synthetic material of some kind. Colonial windows have traditional, even grid patterns. Prairie grids are along the outer area of the glass, which does not obstruct the view from the center of the glass. Craftsman windows have longer grids, typically just one separating grid that produces two squares on the top part of the window. Cottage grids have two separate panes and often include a valance.

Window Screens

The screen acts as a filter for the window, keeping bugs and debris out of the home. The two types of materials include fiberglass and aluminum. The aluminum screen uses wire to create a tight pattern that prevents any particle larger than the gap from entering. It comes in different colors, and customizers can paint the screen for a unique color. Aluminum screens are very durable and stand up to the elements.

Fiberglass screens come in many different models. Some of the screens offer extra solar protection to reduce ultraviolet rays in the home. Fiberglass screens typically come in a mesh material. This is not as durable as aluminum, but it is more affordable.

The components of the window, from the glass to the frame, determine the quality and use of the window. At Advanced Window Products, we pride ourselves in offering quality window products. We only select materials that we know will create an energy-efficiency in styles that flatter individual homes.

Window Style Guide

Posted on August 13, 2014August 27, 2025 by import

Replacement Window Options for Your Home

When it comes to choosing replacement windows for your home, there are many options to choose from. In fact, with so many possibilities, you may even be feeling a bit overwhelmed as a homeowner when it comes to choosing replacement windows for your home. We’d like to assist you by offering brief descriptions of the various types of replacement windows and their benefits. Armed with this knowledge, we hope you’ll be in a better place to choose replacement windows for your home after reading this article.

Casement Windows

Casement windows are the most common type of window found in most homes and can be either single-hung or double-hung, depending on the homeowner’s wants and needs. Specifically, casement windows are attached to frames and hinged on the sides, making them easy to open and close. Casement windows are a great option for most homeowners because they offer maximum views and have essentially endless possibilities when it comes to their design. For example, homeowners can decide which style of casement windows they want, how many panes they want, what shapes and sizes of panes they desire, and just about every other aspect of the window design itself. This level of customization simply isn’t available with many other types of windows. Plus, since casements are relatively easy to install and can be made as simple or complex as the homeowner desires, they also tend to be among the most affordable window options.

Slider Windows / Glider Windows

These terms are often used interchangeably, as they both refer to the same style of window. Slider windows can be single- or double-hung and are very common in residential homes. They open by sliding horizontally, typically with one pane going behind another in the case of single slider windows, but some glider windows have multiple panes so they can open by sliding towards the center of the window from either side, such as with double slider windows. This is great for providing maximum air ventilation in the home.

At the same time, slider windows are ideal for many homeowners because they’re known to be durable and long-lasting due to the fact that the window sash is well supported by its frame design. Since these windows don’t need to swing open on either side, they’re also great for saving space while letting in plenty of daylight.

Many homeowners enjoy glider windows because they also offer flexibility in terms of how much air ventilation they let in. It’s easy to open these windows just a crack or completely depending on how much air you want to let into your home. This cannot be said with some other types of windows, such as tilt windows, which usually have just two positions: completely open or completely closed.

Bay/Bow Windows

Unlike glider and slider windows, there actually is a significant difference between a bay window and a bow window. While both windows are built into casements that protrude from the home’s exterior, a bow window also bows outward from the casement to offer even more interior space. With a bay window, on the other hand, only the casement itself protrudes from the home’s exterior.

Bay and bow windows are beautiful designs and are great for making an architectural statement in the home. Furthermore, a bow window offers extra square footage where a traditional window style simply cannot. Both bow and bay windows are excellent for adding a decorative touch while also providing great views. Bay and bow windows can both be customized to include several panes or as few as three panes, depending on the homeowner’s desires.

As you can see, there are many different window types to consider when it comes to your replacement windows. Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what the differences between the most common types of residential windows are, and what advantages they come with. Be sure to consider this information as you shop for your new windows so that you can determine the replacement windows that will be best for your home. And, as always, be sure to contact Advanced Window Products for your Utah replacement windows or if you have additional questions, we carry many lines of wood and vinyl windows to suit every taste.

Advanced Window Products Is Now Part of the Earthwise Group

Posted on June 19, 2014 by import

Advanced Window Products is now part of the Earthwise Group, a national network of 16 locally owned, independent manufacturers across the United States who design and build high‐quality windows and doors. The combined efforts of the Earthwise community includes a common passion for innovative engineering, energy-efficient solutions, and unmatched quality in the window and door industry.

Our society’s growing population and energy consumption demands a new approach to sustainable development. All of our windows meet or exceed the highest energy standards in the Energy Star program, set by the U.S. Government, the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), and The American Architectural Manufacturing Association (AAMA).

We are the original, and only window product to be “Made in USA” Certified, which means from materials, to manufacturing, from delivery, to install, we are 100% Made in America. We are proud to keep jobs and dollars here in America, and in our local community.

While Earthwise windows by Advanced Window Products keep the cool inside your house, we are all about radiating the benefits of these state of the art windows.

Decrease your negative impact on the environment. Did you know up to 25% of your carbon footprint is a result of your energy consumption in your home? Create energy efficiency and decrease emissions.
Decrease your window maintenance. These windows are built to last. You don’t need to paint, you don’t need to climb ladders to clean, you just need to order and enjoy.
Decrease your energy costs. Most customers report spending only 3/4 of what they did before their window replacement on their energy bill. That’s a lifetime savings that is easy to live with.
Increase your home maintenance longevity. If it breaks, we fix it. If it squeaks, we squelch it. We offer a 100% lifetime warranty!
Increase your quiet. The double paned glass naturally decreases’ sound waves from unwittingly entering your home.

Want more information? Call 801-505-9622 or click here today to talk to a representative.