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Making a comparison of two window types is easy - all you need to know are two critical ratios:

U-Value - The lower the number -- the range is usually 0.25 to 1.25 -- the better the window insulates and the greater the energy savings it will produce in climates where heating dominates home-energy bills.

Solar heat gain coefficient. The lower the SHGC (typically 0.25 to 0.80), the better the window blocks heat caused by sunlight and the greater the savings in climates where cooling dominates.

AFRC-qualified windows are labeled to indicate to which of the Australian cooling areas (BCA Climate zones 6, 7 & 8), heating areas (BCA Climate zones 1, 2 & 3) and mixed areas (BCA Climate zones 4 & 5) a window is best suited, based on its U-factor and SHGC, which are also shown.