Windows today are designed and built to withstand severe storm conditions like hurricanes, protect carpet and furniture from harmful UV rays, and of course insulate better than ever. But understanding the new terminology around the science of solar heat gain, visible light transmittance, and glazing can be a challenge.

The Efficient Windows Collaborative and Energy Star provide websites to aid in specifying the most efficient window for a given climate, but to get you started, PATH suggests looking at three options.

Impact-resistant windows are now available to protect your home and family from wind-blown objects and the local little league all star.

Specialty window coatings like low-e and solar control can reduce the amount of solar heat gain by blocking the passage of infrared beams but still letting light in.

Hydrophilic coatings help windows shed water more quickly, which basically turns a rain storm into a window cleaning.