Energy-Efficient Windows Offer View to Savings

Unless you’re looking out energy-efficient windows, you might as well be watching your dollars escape from your home. That’s because your windows are central to keeping energy savings in your pocket while giving your home the cozy climate you want inside and the pleasant appearance you want outside. Adding insulation in the attic or sides of your home is extremely helpful to energy savings, but you still won’t see the savings and comfort level you could be getting if you’re stuck with inefficient windows. Older homes with drafty windows are robbing their homeowners with high monthly energy bills. In the cold months, the heat is leaving through the sweating frames or the single-glass panes themselves while the cold air is entering. And in the warm months, the same thing is happening with the cool air leaving and the warm air entering while air conditioning is in use. Whether it’s the cold or heat, the weather is zapping you and your bills with drafty windows. By installing Energy Star-rated windows, companies such as Energy Exteriors, a vinyl window and siding business based in Tacoma, Wash., has found success against the elements. Energy Star is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. The U.S. Department of Energy maintains that windows can account for 10 percent to 25 percent of your heating bill. Energy Star-rated windows not only save on a home's energy bill, they are twice as efficient as the average window built just 10 years ago and are thicker and block out more sound, say energy consultants. “What a transformation from what we had with those old aluminum single pane windows… It was very evident right away. You could hold your hand up to the window and not detect any cool air. In addition, the sound deadening was remarkable,” Derrill Fields of Auburn Wash., said in a testimonial letter to Energy Exteriors. During the summer, your air conditioner must work harder to cool hot air from sunny windows. With Energy Star windows and the use of curtains and shades to give your air conditioner and energy bill a break, the cooling load can be cut by 10 percent to 15 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. On Feb. 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009. This bill extended and modified the tax credit for windows, doors and skylights established in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The tax credit is good throughout 2010. The maximum amount of homeowner credit for all energy-related improvements combined, including windows, is 30 percent of cost up to $1,500. Also, with lower monthly energy bills, energy efficient windows pay for themselves in the long run. Energy efficiency remains a top priority of the U.S. government, and one that has been getting increasing attention. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends if your home has single-pane windows, as many U.S. homes do, consider replacing them with new double-pane windows with high-performance glass (e.g., low-e or spectrally selective). In colder climates, select windows that are gas filled with low emissivity (low-e) coatings on the glass to reduce heat loss. If you are building a new home or planning to remodel, you can offset some of the cost of installing more efficient windows because they allow you to buy smaller, less expensive heating and cooling equipment. Here are some consumer shopping tips for windows recommended by the U.S. Department of Energy: - Look for the ENERGY STAR label. - Check with local utilities to see what rebates or other financial incentives are available for window replacement. - High-performance windows have at least two panes of glass and a low-e (low emissivity) coating. - Remember, the lower the thermal transmission or U-factor, the better the insulation. In colder climates, focus on finding a low U-factor. - Low solar heat gain coefficients or SHGCs reduce heat gain. In warm climates, look for a low SHGC. - In temperate climates with both heating and cooling seasons, select windows with both low U-factors and low SHGCs to maximize energy savings. - Look for whole-unit U-factors and SHGCs, rather than center-of-glass, or COG, U-factors and SHGCs. Whole-unit numbers more accurately reflect the energy performance of the entire product. - Have your windows installed by trained professionals. Be sure they're installed according to manufacturer's instructions; otherwise, your warranty may be void. Energy Exteriors has been servicing the State of Washington and Oregon for well over 10 years. For more information, visit www.energyexteriors.net