Kolbe windows & doors

Several organizations exist in the window & door industry to establish standard rating methods for energy efficiency and overall product performance. Most widely known is ENERGY STAR®, which qualifies products based on NFRC ratings. The WDMA focuses on the overall quality and structural performance of windows and doors, and has established a Hallmark Certification program to recognize products that meet quality requirements.

In hurricane and high wind zones, building codes require very specific structural performance levels for windows and doors so that they are considered safe for possible weather extremes in a given region. Projects may require impact certified windows and doors and/or specific DP (design pressure) ratings. To meet these rigorous standards, Kolbe identifies several of its products as K-Force® approved.


ENERGY STAR® is a joint program of the E.P.A. and D.O.E. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy). The goal is to save consumers money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. To rate the efficiency of windows & doors, ENERGY STAR uses energy values obtained through the NFRC.

Several countries have joined ENERGY STAR efforts for consumer products such as computers and electronics. However, at this time, only the U.S. and Canada include windows and doors in their ENERGY STAR initiatives.

For optimal energy efficiency, most Kolbe products have Dual-paned insulating glass units with LoE²-270, argon gas & stainless steel spacer bars as standard. All Kolbe products with this glass meet or exceed ENERGY STAR guidelines in all four U.S. climate zones. Dual-pane insulating glass with LoE and argon gas is standard on most Ultra, Heritage, and Classic Series wood windows and doors, and optional on most Kolbe vinyl windows and patio doors. Many Ultra, Heritage and Classic Series wood products have been approved in Canadian climate zones A & B as well. Our vinyl products will be submitted for Canadian approval in the near future.

If you live in a region where solar heat gain is of utmost concern, we offer LoE²-240 and LoE³-366 glass. Both of these glazing systems permit less solar heat to be transmitted into your home, which results in lower cooling bills & less energy consumption.

To get started finding ENERGY STAR qualified windows and doors, first become familiar with the rating system and climate zones on the Efficient Windows Collaborative website. Then, find the climate zone on the ENERGY STAR website that applies to you: USA or Canada.
Note that the ENERGY STAR-Canada website has extensive databases: windows | sliding patio doors | entrance doors, sidelites & transoms.

Don't have your ENERGY STAR labels, but want tax credit? Go to US Federal Tax Credit information

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is a non-profit organization that administers a uniform, independent rating and labeling system for the energy performance of windows, doors, skylights, and attachment products. The goal is to provide fair, accurate, and reliable energy performance ratings.

NFRC ratings are based on the performance of the total window or door unit (both glass and frame). This helps to directly compare products of different construction and with different attributes for their energy performance.

Kolbe demonstrates a commitment to providing accurate energy data by having products independently simulated, tested, inspected and listed in the NFRC certification program, and making that data available. Search for products on the Certified Products on the NFRC website. The listings include valuable information, such as U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), for certified products. Or, view our energy data by product series.

The NFRC was established in 1989 and sanctioned by the federal government under the Energy Policy Act of 1992. It provides the energy values used in the ENERGY STAR® program.


The Window & Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) is comprised of leading U.S. and Canadian manufacturers of windows, doors and skylights. Participants are committed to high standards of design and construction, so that end users receive the beauty, ease of operation, structural performance, and ease of maintenance they expect from quality-made windows and doors. Kolbe is actively involved with the WDMA. Kolbe president Mike Salsieder is on the 2007 Board of Directors. Plus, several Kolbe employees serve on various WDMA committees and boards, and regularly attend WDMA conferences and seminars.

The WDMA sponsors a Hallmark Certification program. Hallmark Certification is considered a mark of excellence among architects, contractors and other specifiers, and is accepted industry-wide. As part of the program, third-party administrators perform in-plant inspections, which include auditing quality control procedures and processes. Plus, product samples and components are tested periodically by third party testing laboratories. Kolbe is proud to be a part of the Hallmark Certification program. Search the Hallmark Certification database on the WDMA website for Kolbe products that are Hallmark Certified.