Can Energy-Efficient Windows Save You Money?

Windows serve aesthetic and functional purposes for your home. They help keep it well-insulated, and you can choose from a variety of styles to match your tastes and preferences.

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Among your many window choices are energy-efficient windows, which are designed to keep either heated or cooled air inside your home.

How Do Energy-Efficient Windows Work?

Energy-efficient windows work by preventing either heated or cooled air from escaping to the outside. As you cool your home in the summer, energy-efficient windows help keep that cool air inside, and they do the same for heated air in the winter. Windows like these might help you save money on your energy bills because your appliances may not have to work as hard if less air is escaping.

Energy-efficient windows are identified by a blue Energy Star label in the United States. The label is backed by the Environmental Protection Agency, and it has strict performance standards for windows to be Energy Star-rated. Windows that meet the criteria for the Energy Star label include:

• Double or triple panes of glass in each window, with a gas in between, such as argon, which helps with insulation

• Window frame materials that improve insulation

• Spacers to keep individual panes the correct distance apart, which reduces unwanted heat flow and condensation

• Special coatings on the glass that result in low-emissivity (low-E) glass

Low-E Glass

Coatings on windows that create low-E glass help keep the windows energy efficient. Low-E glass reflects heat energy either into or out of the house, depending on the time of year. It also reflects UV light away from the house, which further improves insulation and helps reduce fading on your indoor furniture from direct sunlight.

U-Factor for Windows

One property that measures how well a window is able to insulate is its U-factor. U-factor values for windows generally range between 0.20 and 1.20. Windows with lower U-factors are better able to insulate. However, they're also generally more expensive.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient

Another value you may see when shopping for windows is the SHGC. This essentially measures how much of the sun's heat the window lets in. It ranges in values from 0 to 1. The lower the SHGC, the less heat the window lets in.

The type of energy-efficient windows you choose may also depend on what region you live in and the direction the windows face. The U.S. Department of Energy has a helpful guide for choosing energy-efficient windows.

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Do Energy-Efficient Windows Save Money?

The DOE says that 25% to 30% of residential heating and cooling energy is lost through windows. For example, in the summer, if poorly insulated windows are letting in too much heat, your AC has to run longer or more often, which increases your energy bills. And in the winter, the windows could be letting in too much cold air, which causes your heating system to run longer or more often.

Whether energy-efficient windows save you money depends on your individual situation. It depends on how much you paid for the windows, whether you're getting any rebates from your state government and what kind of difference you're seeing in energy bills.

In one study, the DOE found significant differences in window performance when comparing the insulating abilities of Energy Star windows with less efficient models. It measured annual energy use in kBtu (kilo-British thermal unit) per square foot. Less efficient windows had an annual energy use of 174 kBTUs per square foot, while Energy Star windows had an annual energy use of 137 kBTUs per square foot. This translated into a lifetime cost savings of $2 per square foot of a home.

Can Energy-Efficient Windows Pay for Themselves?

While you'll save money on your energy bills by installing energy-efficient windows, how much you actually save in the long run is dependent on a number of factors, including your climate and how many windows you install. However, you can get a return on your investment in energy-efficient windows, especially if you plan to live in your home for a long time and take advantage of tax credits your state may offer.