Windows have traditionally been the weakest link when it comes to energy efficiency, especially if your home has single-pane windows. Older, single-glazed windows with clear glass can allow cold winter air and summer heat indoors and increase your heating and cooling costs by 25% to 30%. Replacing your home’s windows is a big investment, but the many benefits of energy efficient windows can offset this cost in the long run.
Cost Savings
One of the most obvious advantages of energy efficient windows is the money you can save on your utility bills. Energy efficient windows can substantially reduce your energy costs by eliminating your HVAC unit’s overcompensation due to air leakage in the summer and winter months. Besides monthly cost savings on your utility bill, some state and local governments offer tax credits, rebates and incentives for upgrading to energy efficient windows.
Increased Home Value
While the instant savings you may see on your energy bills is a great perk, another monetary benefit of energy efficient windows is increased home value. Replacing old windows with Energy Star® certified windows can save homeowners an average of 12% on utility bills and enhance the property’s curb appeal. Best of all, when you replace 10 existing double-hung windows with insulated, low-E vinyl windows, you could see a return on your investment of 72.3%accouding to the national average 2020 Cost vs. Value report .
Improved Comfort
Drafts are one of the most frequent complaints about older windows, and cold glass can make drafts even more uncomfortable. Strong direct sunlight shining on older windows can also heat up a home’s interior, causing discomfort for everyone inside. Replacement windows are built to eliminate drafts and reflect heat to greatly improve your indoor comfort level.
Reduced Condensation
Older, double-glazed windows with failing perimeter seals may have increased condensation collecting between the panes of glass, which spoils your view and reduces energy efficiency. Extra condensation can also increase the risk of mold, creating an unhealthy environment, especially for asthma or allergy sufferers. Energy efficient windows minimize energy transfer, which keeps interior glass surfaces warmer and helps reduce frost and condensation that makes rooms feel colder.
Less Maintenance
Older windows are often wood-framed, single-hung units that require a lot of maintenance. Replacing single-hung windows with double-hung windows that tilt out can make cleaning and maintenance much easier and quicker. Wood frames also require repainting or restaining about every three or four years, while vinyl window frames never need to be painted or stained.
Noise Reduction
One of the more surprising benefits of highly insulated, energy efficient windows is their ability to keep outside noises from infiltrating your home. The same qualities that allow energy efficient double-pane and triple-pane windows to effectively seal out exterior temperatures also give them innate soundproofing capabilities. Ambient noise from roadway traffic, sirens or even your neighbor’s constantly barking dog may be greatly reduced when you replace your old single-pane windows.
Reduced Fading
You’ve spent time and money creating the home of your dreams with the right carpet, paint colors, curtains, wood floors and fabrics for your upholstery. The sun’s ultraviolet rays streaming through your old, uncoated glass windows can cause all these items to fade and deteriorate. Modern windows with low-emissivity coatings can reduce fading by up to 75%, which is just one more of the many advantages of energy efficient windows.
Energy Efficiency Is Eco-Friendly
Replacing ineffective windows with energy efficient windows also reduces greenhouse gases and your carbon footprint. Energy Star® certified windows insulate your home better, so you don’t run your heat and air as much. Home energy use constitutes about 1/4 of your carbon footprint, and new windows can reduce your household’s nonrenewable fuel usage and the exhaust gas that harms the environment.
Enjoy the Benefits of Energy Efficient Windows
Our replacement windows at Thompson Creek exceed the Energy Star® criteria and are designed to increase your interior comfort and lower your utility bills. We design and build all of our high-quality, energy efficient windows and professionally install them using our propriety installation techniques that outlast our 50-year No-Hassle warranty. If your old windows are deteriorated and drafty, contact us for a free estimate, and start enjoying all the benefits of energy efficient windows.