Ah, but in North America, only double-pane windows are required. Triple-pane windows are considered necessary for noise abatement but are prohibitively expensive. There are government rebates for upgrading older homes from single to double-pane windows, but no third-pane increase in the rebate.
Yes, and to give an idea I replaced some windows in my house a couple years back. The double pane windows on the north side were about $100 to $150 per, while the triple pane windows on the south side were $900. The triple pane also had higher installation labor costs. It seemed ludicrous to me that it would be so much more expensive, but after calling around, that was very typical.
Don't they use machinery to carry the windows? Even double pane gets heavy. The windows of the sliding doors I've recently got replaced were like 200kg each.
I got extra thick glasses (12mm thick each instead of 6mm standard) for my argon filled double pane windows in the bedroom. The noise isolation is incredbly improved. It did cost only 15% more. This is Europe again.
12mm thick glass is pretty damn thick and is normally used for for table tops, glass walls and partitions, hearths, frameless balustrades at ground level, and kitchen worktops.
They are the standard, because historically Eastern European winters are several times harsher than anything in USA, with the exception of a few states bordering Canada.
More like the lack of natural fuel that Europe is willing or able to use for itself.
Noticeable exception includes Norway with their gas fields, but it's not like Germany has huge swaths of oil ready to be used. Germany does have substantial coal, but it's been decreasing its use of it in exchange for alternatives it doesn't own the fuel for.
In other words, Europe pays more for energy because they have to import it. Importing it isn't factoring "externalities", as the extra money isn't going to anything except Russia or OPEC.