Case Study: National Builder Prioritizes Occupant Health and Well-Being

TRIPLE-PANE WINDOWS INCREASE THE COMFORT, EFFICIENCY, AND VALUE OF NEW HOMES

With a longstanding commitment to providing homeowners with energy-conscious features and comfortable homes, Lennar, one of the nation’s leading homebuilders, strives to deliver quality and value in all its homes.

Recently, Lennar selected triple-pane windows for its new Ridgefield Heights community in Ridgefield, Wash. By choosing triple-pane windows for each of the 100 homes in the community, Lennar was able to provide homeowners with comfort, sustainable living, and the opportunity to realize energy savings. Triple-pane windows also provided flexibility in meeting and exceeding energy codes during the building process.

“Using triple-pane windows helped us to not only meet but exceed energy codes in this community,” said Josh Boatsman, vice president of purchasing for Lennar. “Our building methods enhance the comfort of each home and provide the opportunity for our homeowners to reduce their energy usage.”

CONVENIENT CODE FLEXIBILITY WITH A SURPRISINGLY FAST LEAD TIME

In addition to enhancing efficiency and code compliance, the triple-pane product was as readily available as any standard double-pane window on
the market.

“We were pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get triple-pane windows off the production line,” said Gabriele Danese, purchasing agent for Lennar. “For any product that goes above and beyond the standard offering, there can sometimes be a delay. There were no lags or supply issues with triple-pane windows. We were able to order them and get them to our community without complications.”

TRIPLE-PANE WINDOWS OFFER PAIN-FREE INSTALLATION

While the addition of a third pane of glass makes triple-pane windows slightly heavier than their less efficient double-pane counterparts, Danese didn’t notice much of a difference in the installation process.

“We used two installers per window,” he said, “which is what we would use for double-pane windows. While one of the installers holds the window in place, the other can take care of the flashing. So, despite their added weight, it was essentially the same experience as installing any other type of window.”

Compared to double-pane windows, triple-pane windows offer a host of benefits to builders and residents

Builder benefits*:

• Comparable weight and installation experience
• Wide availability from most U.S. manufacturers, with a similar lead time
• Consistently dropping incremental costs
• Flexibility in meeting or surpassing energy codes

Homeowner benefits*:

• Enhanced thermal, visual, and acoustic comfort
• Reduced unwanted heat loss/gain
• Improved window energy performance by 40%
• Reduced heating and cooling costs
• Minimized air leakage and interior condensation
• Enhanced protection from extreme weather conditions

*Sources: U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Cort, K., Louie, E., & Hart, R. "Using Triple-Pane Windows to Meet IEEC Envelope Requirements." ASHRAE Journal Vol. 64, Issue 3. March 2022.