Baerg's Home Performance Solutions

03/11/2026

This is a great article about window specifications. In my work as an Energy Advisor and as an HVAC designer, I frequently see windows that qualify as Energy Star but are really not appropriate for climate of northern Ontario. That is because Energy Star allows the use of Energy Rating (ER) to qualify.

Windows may qualify as Energy Star or Energy Star Most Efficient based on either the Energy Rating (ER) or the U-value. U is the reciprocal of R; so, windows with lower U-value have a better insulating value. ER is an all encompassing metric that takes into account air leakage and solar gain, as well as U-value. While it sounds good that ER takes into account all characteristics of the window, what it means is that a window may qualify because its glass allows a lot of solar gain while its thermal efficiency is poor. That may work well in more southern areas where winter days are longer than ours and it doesn’t get as cold. But in northern Ontario, a window with high ER but poor thermal efficiency (high U-value) will be cold to sit near on cold nights and will not deliver the energy savings it promises. Therefore, I recommend choosing windows with as low a U-value as possible (less than 1.2 W/m2K or, better yet less than1.05 W/m2K if that fits your budget)

Choosing windows for your home can be complex. Learn how to balance performance, cost, and aesthetics for different climates and designs.

10/11/2023

I see many of my HVAC design clients opting for huge windows and I know that I can only mitigate what is a bad design decision. To make things worse, they opt for windows with high solar heat gain and mediocre U-values thinking that they will offset the heat loss with solar gain. To clarify that, U is the reciprocal of R; so, windows with lower U-value have a better insulating value. You will often see windows advertised as energy efficient because they have a high Efficiency Rating (ER) ER is sort of an all encompassing metric that takes into account air leakage and solar gain, as well as U-value. While it sounds good that ER takes into account all characteristics of the window, what it means is that a window may qualify because its glass allows a lot of solar gain while it’s thermal efficiency is poor. That may work well in more southern areas where winter days are longer than ours and it doesn’t get as cold. But in northern Ontario, a window with high ER but poor thermal efficiency (high U-value) will be cold to sit near on cold nights and will not deliver the energy savings it promises.

Minimize your window area. That will allow you to afford really good windows. You will be more comfortable and your house will be more efficient.

Too many windows and/or oversized windows decrease the R-value of walls, so buy the right windows and install them in the right place.

04/29/2023

I’m getting a lot of interest in heat pumps lately.

At current fuel prices, they are the most economical method to heat in all but the coldest climates - even slightly cheaper than natural gas here in New Liskeard. If you also get rid of your other gas burning appliances and remove the service fee from your monthly costs, the savings are substantial.

Governments have been encouraging Canadians to switch to electric heat pumps to cut greenhouse gas emissions. But what parts of Canada are they suitable for? And what temperatures? Here are some questions asked by CBC News readers.

03/08/2023

By simplifying and minimizing a building's form you can reduce the materials needed, which lessens the project's carbon emissions profile.

05/05/2021

Manufacturers of foil-faced bubble wrap are still convincing a significant number of homeowners to buy their worthless products out of the mistaken belief that bubble wrap is insulation. It isn’t.Even […]

10/07/2020

Today is Energy Efficiency Day.

Take a moment to consider how you could reduce your carbon footprint.

#2 (these are in no particular order) Retrofit your house. Is your basement uninsulated? Attic insulation a little thin? House drafty? Now is the time to make a change and there is help available through Enbridge's Home Efficiency Rebate

Based on the recent announcement from the Government of Ontario that outlines the Phase 1 reopening of non-essential businesses, in-home energy assessments for the Home Efficiency Rebate program will commence June 15, 2020.

10/06/2020

October 7 is Energy Efficiency Day. Please take a moment to consider how you could reduce your carbon footprint.

#1. Give your car a break and bike walk or take public transit to work. If you can't do it every day, start with one day a week. Your body will thank you!

Our staff's top 10 reasons why everyone should bike to work. What are yours?

09/09/2020

Should we be increasing our ventilation rates?

07/17/2020

Some good rules if you are designing a house.

For the best performance, build a simple roof shape over a vented unconditioned attic

06/03/2020

I couldn't say this any better. One point I would like to highlight is about crawlspaces. The old logic in this area is to open crawlspace vents in the summer. By doing this, you make the crawlspace wetter by bringing warm, moist air into a relatively cool space. Instead, treat the space like a basement - cover the dirt floor with plastic; control water infiltration by installing eavestroughs, extending the downspouts at least 4' away and make sure the ground slopes away from the house. Finally, run a dehumdifier in the space during the spring and summer.

If you find a patch of mold in your house, don’t panic

04/22/2020

Some builders still worry that air sealing efforts will lead to rot