ENERGY STAR® version 7.0: Your quick guide to what’s changed
ENERGY STAR® version 7.0 is out. What does this mean in your climate zone? What products will meet the new requirements? What should you know about the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 tax credit? We’re here to answer these pressing questions.
The big headline is that U-Factor requirements are much more stringent under ENERGY STAR® version 7.0. In the Northern climate zone, triple-pane glass is now the best solution for meeting requirements. We’ll share the highlights related to version 7.0 and give you some tips about specifying product for your climate zone.
What’s changed with ENERGY STAR 7.0?
Here are a few of the most notable changes that are included in this update:
- In all climate zones, the criteria for meeting ENERGY STAR requirements have changed with very stringent changes in the Northern and North-Central climate zones — see tables below to understand the changes in each climate zone.
- Version 7.0 brings the most stringent criteria ever with a Northern zone U-Factor of ≤ 0.22 for windows and ≤ 0.26 for patio doors.
- Also in the Northern zone, for the first time, there is a minimum Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) requirement for windows of ≥ 0.17. ENERGY STAR continues to allow equivalent energy options for windows in the Northern climate zone where a higher U-Factor can be used with a minimum SHGC. See tables below for details on requirements for prescriptive and equivalent options.
- In the North-Central climate zone, the U-Factor has also changed significantly from ≤ 0.30 to ≤ 0.25.
- In the South-Central climate zone, there has been a more moderate change in window U-Factor from ≤ 0.30 to ≤ 0.28.
- In the Southern climate zone, the window U-Factor requirement has changed significantly from ≤ 0.40 to ≤ 0.32.
- The SHGC requirement for windows in the South-Central and Southern climate zones has been lowered from ≤ 0.25 to ≤ 0.23.
- For doors, particularly the > ½ lite category that glass patio doors fall under, the U-Factor criteria has changed from ≤ 0.30 to ≤ 0.26 in the Northern and North-Central climate zones.
- The climate zone map has also changed most notably in the West, see California and Nevada. This has resulted in changes to all four of the ENERGY STAR climate zones, so pay close attention when understanding the right climate zone in your area.
Remember, ENERGY STAR is different from energy code. While compliance with local energy code is required, compliance with ENERGY STAR is voluntary. Using ENERGY STAR-certified products for your climate zone can help improve the energy efficiency of a building and lower heating and cooling costs. ENERGY STAR-certified products can also help qualify homeowners for tax credits. ENERGY STAR performance criteria is also considered a leading indicator of where future energy codes are heading.
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Dual-pane windows with Low-E coatings
In North-Central, South-Central, and Southern climate zones, there are more options across a variety of product lines for meeting requirements with dual-pane glass and coatings. Limited dual-pane glass options will be able to meet requirements in the Northern climate zone.
- Northern climate zone: Although there are more limited dual-pane window products that will meet requirements for this zone, in some cases adding PassiveSun® glass with HeatLock® technology will provide the insulation needed while also allowing for higher SHGC. This combination of coatings has recently been expanded and is now available across all our window and patio door product lines. In addition, the 400 Series Tilt-Wash Double-Hung Window can meet requirements with the addition of a factory-applied performance panel and the right combination of glass coatings.
- North-Central, South-Central, and Southern climate zones: In many cases, SmartSun glass with HeatLock technology will help a dual-pane window meet requirements.
