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Do Your Energy Savings Research Before You Replace the Windows On Your Home

The radio announcers says, "Replace your old drafty windows with our new triple pane, xenon-gas-filled vinyl replacement windows and cut your heating and cooling bills in half!" We've all heard these fabulous claims about the potential savings new windows can make in our energy bills. But, there are several questions you should ask before you let the salesman at the home show talk you into making such a huge investment in your home.

Many older homes have single-pane windows with wooden frames and sashes. Research by the Center for Sustainable Building Research, Alliance to Save Energy and the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, indicates clear glass windows with non-metal frames can be responsible for up to $1,000 in heating costs per year and over $1,250 in cooling costs (based upon a 2250 sq ft house in the Kansas City climate zone).

The very best window tested showed costs for heating of over $800 per year and cooling costs of $1,000. That is nowhere near the $1,125 savings needed to reduce your energy bills 50 percent. It is around $700 in savings per year. With an average installed cost of around $1,000 per standard sized window, it will take several years to save enough in energy costs to pay for the replacements.

There are several factors to consider before making the capital outlay for new windows:

• How long do you plan to live in the house? We have become a very "mobile" society. Most people live in a home less than seven years.
• Will the new windows increase the value of my home? In most cases, home buyers are willing to pay more for a home with new windows than one that "needs" new windows.
• Are there drafts in the home that make it uncomfortable? In many cases, just caulking around window frames will reduce drafts significantly and reduce energy use.
• Will storm windows do the same thing? Storm windows essentially make your windows "double-paned" and will greatly improve the efficiency and U-value (similar to R-value for insulation) of your window at a much lower price.
• The government will give me a tax credit to replace my windows. The most you can claim on your 2010 tax return for this improvement is 30% of the cost with a maximum of $1,500. Anything over $4,500 will not get a credit. Many estimates for average homes run over $10,000 to replace all of the windows and glass doors.
• I just want them because: They look better, they're easier to clean, my neighbor has them, or any of countless reasons to replace your windows.

Whatever your reason, the decision to replace your windows should probably not be based upon sales pitches promising to save 50 percent of your heating and cooling costs. If the dollars your windows cost in energy are a major concern, there are several things you can do to help the situation:

• Make sure all window frames are caulked both inside and out.
• Replace cracked or missing glazing putty.
• Keep the sash lock in working condition and keep it locked tightly when the window is not open.
• Use curtains and/or drapes to reduce solar gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter.
• Install storm windows as a lower-cost method of achieving double-pane efficiency.
• Replace any broken or cracked panes as soon as they are discovered.

The decision to replace windows is significant and homeowners should do their research before taking that step. Be aware that many of the claims made by sales people are not substantiated or based upon legitimate scientific studies. Finally, if you decide to buy windows based upon a company's claim they will cut your heating and cooling bills by 50%, ask them to give you a written guarantee stating that if the windows don't reduce your heating and cooling bills as claimed, they will pay you the difference.

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