Great Windows Mean More than Clean Glass

If you own a business, odds are that you’re constantly looking for ways to improve your cash flow and increase the bottom line. Investing in a capital improvement project such as replacing your building’s windows can be just the ticket to not only decreasing monthly energy bills but also boosting revenue.

Replacing old, single-pane, drafty windows with new units that incorporate low-e coatings, for example, can go a long way towards reducing HVAC costs. Low-e coatings that consist of very thin layers of metal deposited on the glass let visible light pass through, but reflect infrared and ultraviolet rays. In summer, these coatings can reflect solar heat, thus reducing cooling costs. And in the winter, they reflect ambient heat back into the building’s interior.

Add in window technology such as argon- or krypton-gas insulation between the multiple panes of glass and not only will your employees be more comfortable, but your customers will appreciate the difference – especially important in restaurant settings that can be notoriously chilly due to large glass panes. And the more comfortable the customer, the more likely they are to stay a while and enjoy themselves.

One note of caution: don’t be tempted to cut corners and try to replace the windows yourself. Commercial building codes and engineering standards are vastly different from residential ones, and you’ll want to rely on the knowledge base of a licensed and qualified commercial contractor such as Minnesota Valley Construction to drive the project. That way you’ll know that everything was done to both state and local codes.