What is ENERGY STAR 7.0?
The ENERGY STAR Version 7.0 is a set of specification requirements for certification that provides a significant jump in efficiency and savings. According to EPA research, if all residential windows and doors sold in the United States were certified to ENERGY STAR Version 7.0, the energy cost savings would grow to more than $156 billion each year and more than 53 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions would be avoided annually.
NEW CERTIFICATION CRITERIA:
A. Energy Efficiency Requirements:
Energy Efficiency Requirements for Windows
| Climate Zone | U-Factor | SHGC |
| Northern | ≤ 0.22 | ≥ 0.17 |
| North-Central | ≤ 0.25 | ≤ 0.40 |
| South-Central | ≤ 0.28 | ≤ 0.23 |
| Southern | ≤ 0.32 | ≤ 0.23 |
Energy Efficiency Requirements for Doors
| Glazing Level | U-Factor | Climate | SHGC |
| Opaque | ≤ 0.17 | ALL | No Rating |
| ≤ ½-Lite | ≤ 0.23 | ALL | ≤ 0.23 |
| > ½-Lite | ≤ 0.26 | Northern and North-Central |
≤ 0.40 |
| > ½-Lite | ≤ 0.28 | South-Central and Southern |
≤ 0.23 |
B. Equivalent Energy Performance:
Equivalent Energy Performance for Windows
| Climate Zone | U-Factor1 | SHGC2 |
| Northern | = 0.23 | ≥ 0.35 |
| Northern | = 0.24 | ≥ 0.35 |
| Northern | = 0.25 | ≥ 0.40 |
| Northern | = 0.26 | ≥ 0.40 |
C. Air Leakage Requirements: Products shall have Air Leakage ratings at levels which meet or exceed the
minimum criteria specified in Table 5 and adhere to the labeling requirements laid out below
Air Leakage Requirements
| Product | Air Leakage Rating |
| Window, Sliding Door | ≤ 0.3 cfm/ft2 |
D. Installation Instructions: Products shall have installation instructions readily available online or packaged
with the product.
What Vector products are 7.0 certified?
- The Vector Envision Series windows with our Triple-Pane Glass option qualify in the Northern Climate Zone
Vector Windows and Doors is looking forward to continued innovation and better window and door performance for increased energy cost savings, home comfort, and overall sustainability. The high-performance warm edge spacers in our dual pane window products are a big component of making our windows and doors energy efficient. The thermal warm-edge spaces in combination with our technically engineered vinyl framing systems with small cavity air cells have made our Envision Series an Energy Star Most Efficient rated product for over 5 years.
