What are the factors in the choice of a window?
A) Utility - Look Through it. Open it for air flow.
B) Efficiency – Thermal barrier to control temps, solar gain & elements.
C) Aesthetics – shape, side, placement.
D) Costs - Relative value of the selection made.
So let's take them one at a time.
A) Utility: It is a little known secret that about every window sold in America has glass from a single company. In Minnesota all new homes come with a window that has "LOW E", argon gas filled which simply discloses the reflective properties of the glass. "Hung" windows slide up and down, "Casement" windows crank out. We use Single-Hung units in most our homes. They come in lots of sizes, including tall 72" units, are very rigid, and don't have "gears" to wear out, jump off track, or break. All windows today come with a clad or weatherproof exterior shell. Most of the windows in our homes have enameled (painted with spray) jambs on the inside.
This accomplishes two key objectives:
1) The white (or near white) color reflects the light more and makes the home interior brighter – even on cloudy days, and
2) The enameled jamb parts are much sturdier against the sun's attempt to deteriorate the finish there. If you've been in any home over 10 years old you see the need for sanding & re-varnishing stained jambs, while enameled jambs hold up much better.
B) Efficiency: As mentioned above, we typically use a Milgard Brand single-hung window in our homes. They are tighter than a double-hung, and are some of the most thermally-efficient windows on the market at any price. They are easy to close, even for kids, and hence end up having less drafts. All homes built today must meet minimum wind-shear loads, so that is not any issue worth fretting about.
C) Aesthetics: While this is certainly the most subjective category, we generally prefer classic grid styles, shapes and sizes that "balance", and as tall a window as can fit in a room. Most of our Great Room ceilings are elevated to allow taller-than-typical windows in that space. Sometimes, we will set them about at floor height.
D) Costs & Value: This is the area we have done the most technical AND consumer feedback research around. After extensive research we learned that the "King" of windows, the Andersen brand (which we using exclusively) not only did not have the best warranty, it also commanded a premium price we were not sure was worth it. So, we lowered our homes' base price and began offering it as an option. The results were immediate and overwhelming – only about 2-3% clients were willing to pay the upgrade once they were apprised of the several other, less expensive choices. We received the message loud and clear.
In fact, 2 members of our executive team now live in homes that have our Milgard and Hayfield vinyl hung-style windows – and LOVE THEM. The Milgard Warranty is fantastic. We now have about 10 year's experience with these products and have no plans to go back to traditional wood windows – except by client request and in a few of our high-priced homes. Years ago, millwork companies switched from "solid" wood doors to particle-board-core doors with thick wood veneer. These doors look great and perform better than solid doors ever could. Window technology is much like that – these new units will perform better, cost less, and require no maintenance. Some things, like wood floor, we believe in staying with the old-fashion product and process. But with windows, the newest technologies have indeed improved the breed . . .
Further reading:
LOW E – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-emissivity
Milgard – http://www.milgard.com/windows/vinyl-windows/style-line/
Hanson Team 
