ENERGY STAR® Qualified Windows, Doors and Skylights
Buying Energy-efficient Products
Buying energy-efficient fenestration products is easy. Windows, doors and skylights are among the growing list of products that can qualify for the ENERGY STAR international symbol for energy efficiency.
Step One
Find the zone where you live or where the product will be installed. Canada has been divided into four climate zones based on annual average temperature. Zone A is the mildest, and Zone D is the coldest.
To find the climate zone for your location, click on a province or territory on the map below. A scrollable chart will show the climate zone for a number of locations or you can enter a location to see if it is listed. A map of the province, territory or region is also shown with a number of locations on it.
Step Two
Look for the ENERGY STAR symbol in the showroom or on promotional literature, or ask your salesperson, contractor or renovator.
Samples of ENERGY STAR labels
Sample of promotional label
Sample showroom display label
Step Three
Make sure that the product model you are buying is qualified for the correct climate zone, or, to save even more energy, for colder zones. If you live in a location that is significantly higher in elevation than the surrounding area, consider purchasing a product that is ENERGY STAR qualified for at least one zone colder than where you live (especially in southern and central British Columbia).
To find the climate zone for your location, click on a province or territory on the map above. A scrollable chart will show the climate zone for a number of locations or you can enter a location to see if it is listed. A map of the province, territory or region is also shown with a number of locations on it.
View our list of manufacturers and dealers that supply ENERGY STAR qualified windows, doors and skylights and have joined as ENERGY STAR Participants in Canada
Energy-efficient fenestration products will:
- reduce your home energy costs by 7 to 12 percent
- reduce or eliminate cold drafts
- collect less condensation
- reduce noise from outside
ENERGY STAR Performance Levels
ENERGY STAR qualified windows, doors and skylights are tested and certified by an independent, accredited agency. Products qualify for ENERGY STAR based on either their U-value or their Energy Rating. As well, windows and patio doors must achieve at least an A2 rating for airtightness. The tables below show the required ratings for windows, doors and skylights to be ENERGY STAR qualified for each climate zone in Canada.
ENERGY STAR Requirements for Windows and Doors Effective October 1, 2010
(Products may comply based on either their U-value and R-value or their Energy Rating)
| Windows | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone |
Heating Degree-Day Range |
Compliance Paths | |||
| Energy Rating (ER) | or | U-Factor | |||
|
Minimum ER (unitless) Maximum U-Factor 2.00 W/m²•K (0.35 Btu/h•ft.²•°F) |
Maximum U-Factor W/m²•K (Btu/h•ft.²•°F) |
Minimum ER (unitless) |
|||
| A | <= 3500 | 21 | or | 1.80 (0.32) | 13 |
| B | > 3500 to <= 5500 | 25 | or | 1.60 (0.28) | 17 |
| C | > 5500 to <= 8000 | 29 | or | 1.40 (0.25) | 21 |
| D | > 8000 | 34 | or | 1.20 (0.21) | 25 |
| Doors | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone |
Heating Degree-Day Range |
Compliance Paths | |||
| Energy Rating (ER) | or | U-Factor | |||
|
Minimum ER (unitless) Maximum U-Factor 2.00 W/m²•K (0.35 Btu/h•ft.²•°F) |
Maximum U-Factor W/m²•K (Btu/h•ft.²•°F) |
Minimum ER (unitless) |
|||
| A | <= 3500 | 21 | or | 1.80 (0.32) | N/A |
| B | > 3500 to <= 5500 | 25 | or | 1.60 (0.28) | N/A |
| C | > 5500 to <= 8000 | 29 | or | 1.40 (0.25) | N/A |
| D | > 8000 | 34 | or | 1.20 (0.21) | N/A |
ENERGY STAR Requirements for Skylights Effective October 1, 2010
| Skylights* (Effective October 1, 2010) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Zone | Heating Degree-Day Range |
Maximum U-Factor W/m²•K (Btu/h•ft.²•°F) |
| A | <= 3500 | 2.80 (0.50) |
| B | > 3500 to <= 5500 | 2.60 (0.46) |
| C | > 5500 to <= 8000 | 2.40 (0.42) |
| D | > 8000 | 2.20 (0.39) |
*includes Tubular Skylights
U-Factor Conversion to R-Value
Windows, doors and skylights are not normally assigned an R-value when tested. To help you better understand their insulating performance, sample U-factors in both metric and imperial units have been converted to R-values in the table below. Because Energy Rating values are derived from a formula that uses both U-factor and solar heat gain, there is no method to directly convert the Energy Rating value to R-value.
| U-Factor Conversion to R-Value | ||
|---|---|---|
|
U-Factor W/m²•K |
U-Factor Btu/h•ft.²•°F |
R-Value ft.²•h•°F/Btu |
| 3.40 | 0.60 | 1.7 |
| 3.20 | 0.56 | 1.8 |
| 3.00 | 0.53 | 1.9 |
| 2.80 | 0.50 | 2.0 |
| 2.60 | 0.46 | 2.2 |
| 2.40 | 0.42 | 2.4 |
| 2.20 | 0.39 | 2.6 |
| 2.00 | 0.35 | 2.9 |
| 1.80 | 0.32 | 3.2 |
| 1.60 | 0.28 | 3.6 |
| 1.40 | 0.25 | 4.0 |
| 1.20 | 0.21 | 4.8 |
| 1.00 | 0.18 | 5.6 |
| 0.80 | 0.14 | 7.1 |
| 0.60 | 0.11 | 9.1 |