Choosing the right windows for your home can feel like a complex process. You’ll want your new windows to look aesthetically pleasing, of course, but there are a few other elements to keep in mind—most importantly, the climate of where you live.
In this guide, we’ll describe the windows best suited for the climates in different parts of the country. Once you know how to start your search, you can find the best window brands for your specific needs.
Key Takeaways
- If you live in a warmer climate, selecting energy-efficient windows can help keep your home cool and your energy bills low. Look for windows with low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) scores.
- If you live in a cooler climate, choosing windows with low U-factor scores, which measures a window’s insulation, can help keep your home warm during the fall and winter months.
- Fiberglass window frames are typically the most energy-efficient regardless of your climate, as they contain air cavities that can get filled with insulation.
Factors To Consider When Choosing Windows
Your home’s style and curb appeal is important, but there are also environmental factors to consider when choosing windows for your home. Energy efficient windows help regulate your home’s temperature and keep your bills low, but depending on the climate where you live, “energy efficiency” can mean different things.
First, you’ll want to decide the type of window that works best for both your aesthetic and environmental needs. There are many to choose from:
- Cost: $100 – $3,950
- Cost: $158 – $1,700
- Cost: $900 – $7,100
- Standard Cost: $150–$800
- Full Size Cost: $600–$5,000
- Cost: $150 – $2,300
- Cost: $150 – $5,000
- Cost: $150 – $650 each
- Cost: $90–$400
- Cost: $325 – $788
- Cost: $200–$650
Additionally, we found that experts recommend double- and triple-pane windows for all climates, as they maximize energy efficiency no matter the temperature or weather.
In the sections below, we’ll give an overview of what to think about when choosing windows for warmer and cooler climates.
What Is the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient?
- The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) measures how much solar radiation can pass through a window. SHGC scores, which range from 0–1 and are expressed as two-digit decimals, quantify a window’s energy efficiency. Windows with lower SHGC scores let in less solar heat, keeping homes cooler.
Concerns for Warmer Climates
The best windows for hot climates typically have SHGC scores of 0.40 or less. Windows with lower SHGC scores block solar heat, which helps keep your home cool during the summer months. Wood, vinyl, and aluminum frames work best in warmer climates, since these materials insulate well, creating another barrier that keeps solar radiation from entering your home. Aluminum is an especially sound choice, as it’s not susceptible to mold or rot, and won’t warp due to weather.
The glass you choose for warm-climate windows should have low-emissivity (low-E) coating, which consists of thin layers of silver or other low-E materials. This type of coating reflects interior temperatures back into the room, helping regulate temperature.
What Is Window U-Factor?
- The U-factor refers to a window’s ability to insulate your home. U-factor scores typically range from 0.20–1.20. Windows with lower U-factor scores let in more solar heat, keeping homes warmer.
Concerns for Colder Climates
The best windows for cold climates are well insulated. When selecting windows for homes in cooler areas, look for low U-factor scores, which refer to how well the window keeps heat inside. Double- and triple-pane glass provide much better insulation than single-pane windows, which allow heat to escape more freely. Low-e coating works well for cold climates by reflecting heat back into the room.
Best Windows for Your Climate Region
In the following sections, we’ll detail the most common weather hazards in each region of the country and offer suggestions for the types of windows, frames, and glass that work best in those climates.
Here’s a quick overview before we get into more details:
| Region | Weather Hazards | Window Types | Type of Frame | Type of Glass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Southeast | Hurricanes, rain, wind storms | Bay or bow, casement, sliding | Aluminum | Impact resistant, lower SHGC score |
| Southeast | Extreme heat | Double-hung, double-pane | Vinyl | Lower SHGC score, low-e coating |
| Northeast | Snowstorms, blizzards, extreme cold | Single-hung, double-hung, casement, sliding | Wood | Low SHGC and U-factor scores, low-E coating |
| Midwest | Extreme cold, high winds, tornadoes | Casement | Vinyl, wood | Higher SHGC scores in the Upper Midwest, lower U-factor and SHGC scores in the Central and Southern Midwest, low-E coating |
| Pacific Northwest | Rain, moisture | Bay or bow, casement, awning | Vinyl, wood-resin composite, fiberglass | Lower U-factor scores, higher SHGC scores |
| Southwest | Intense sun, extreme heat | Double-pane, sliding, and casement | Vinyl, wood | Lower SHGC scores, spectrally selective coating |
Coastal Southeast
Hazards: Hurricanes and other wind and rain storms
Window Types: Bay or bow, casement, or sliding
Type of Frame: Aluminum
Type of Glass: Impact resistant with lower SHGC score
The Coastal Southeast, which ranges from Florida to southern Virginia, braces for the potential of intense storms from June 1 through November 30. Even if storms don’t reach Category 5, it’s a good idea to choose windows that can withstand gale force winds and sheets of rain. The best windows for hurricanes have impact resistant glass and aluminum frames.
Southeast
Hazards: Extreme heat
Window Types: Double-hung or double-pane
Type of Frame: Vinyl
Type of Glass: Lower SHGC score with low-E coating
The Southeast is known for its hospitality, but even more so for its long, hot summers. If you live in places like Tennessee, Mississippi, or Alabama, you’ll want to select windows that keep heat out. This means choosing glass with SHGC scores under 0.40 and low-E coating. Double-hung or double-pane glass can prevent solar heat from entering rooms, keeping your home cool and energy bills low during the dog days of summer.
Northeast
Hazards: Snowstorms, blizzards, and extreme cold
Window Types: Single-hung, double-hung, casement, or sliding
Type of Frame: Wood
Type of Glass: Low SHGC and U-factor scores with low-E coating
The Northeast is known for its cold, snowy winters, especially in areas like Upstate New York and New England. It’s important to keep your home warm during the colder months, so windows that insulate well are key. Look for glass with a low U-factor coated with low-E material.
Midwest
Hazards: Extreme cold, high winds, and tornadoes
Window Types: Casement
Type of Frame: Vinyl or wood
Type of Glass: Higher SHGC scores in the Upper Midwest, lower U-factor and SHGC scores in the Central and Southern Midwest, and low-E coating
The Midwest, especially in northernmost states like Wisconsin and Minnesota, have long, extremely cold winters. You’ll need windows that allow in solar heat and insulate well to endure these frigid months, so look for glass with high SHGC scores. The central and southern parts of the Midwest are at risk for destructive wind storms and tornadoes, so you’ll want to choose windows with impact-resistant glass if you live in those areas.
Pacific Northwest
Hazards: Rain and moisture
Window Types: Bay or bow, casement, or awning
Type of Frame: Vinyl, wood-resin composite, or fiberglass
Type of Glass: Lower U-factor scores but higher SHGC scores
The Pacific Northwest has a cool, grey, and wet climate, so it’s best to choose windows that effectively keep the chill and moisture outside. Awning windows, which open outward, prevent precipitation from entering your home, and bay windows allow in the most natural light. You’ll want to find glass that has a low U-factor score but higher SHGC ratings.
Southwest
Hazards: Intense sun and extreme heat
Window Types: Double-pane, sliding, or casement
Type of Frame: Vinyl or wood
Type of Glass: Lower SHGC scores with spectrally selective coating
The Southwest is typically dry, hot, and bright, so windows with good solar heat resistance are your best bet for staying cool and keeping energy bills manageable. SHGC scores of 0.30 or lower are effective in preventing solar heat from baking your home, and spectrally selective coating can reduce the sun’s intensity.
Conclusion
Energy efficiency is the most important factor to consider when selecting windows for your home. Different climates require different kinds of windows, so it’s a good idea to know the biggest weather hazards in your area—from hurricanes in the coastal Southeast to extreme cold in the upper Midwest—and choose windows specifically made for those environments.
