If you’re shopping for replacement windows you’ve probably heard that your new windows will save you lots of money on your energy bills, and might even recoup the investment. While a lot of window contractors in Tucson, AZ pass this information around, the window contractors here at Olander’s Window Replacement set out to prove or disprove the myth once and for all.
The best place to start is with hard data. A 2009 Energy Star study shows that homeowners can save at least $27 a year on their energy bills if they replace their windows with new, more energy efficient models. Homeowners that have single pane windows and replace them with double pane, Energy Star rated windows can save between $126 and $465 in savings every year, while homeowners with double paned windows already will only see $111 in energy bill savings. That’s a pretty decent amount of savings.
We did more digging, and found out that homeowners can save even more money with replacement windows by applying for federal tax credits. If you need help paying for your replacement windows, or are looking to save a few bucks on your taxes, you can apply for a federal tax credit for replacement windows. You must use Energy Star windows in order to qualify, but you don’t even have to replace every window in your home. Homeowners saved 10% of their replacement window cost in 2011, up to $200, with Federal tax credits.
This proves that, yes, you can save money if you install replacement windows. However, it’s important to note that you don’t always have to replace your windows to see improvements in your energy usage and spending.
A California Office of Historic Preservation study found that homeowners thought that replacing their windows was their only option, and were pressured to do so, when in actuality, repairing existing windows can help you save money, too. A different 2004 study found that new windows can cost anywhere from $150 to $1,000 per window, not including labor costs, while repairing existing windows can cost as low as $50 per window. Depending on the state of your window, repair is a great way to increase energy efficiency and save money all at the same time.
If you don’t have it in the budget to replace your windows this year, or your window problems can be fixed by repair, here are some other ways you can make your home more energy efficient:
- Window insulation, like plastic coverings
- Checking your home for leaks, including in heating and cooling ducts, doors and cracks
- Upgrading your home’s insulation (also gets you a federal tax credit of up to $500)
There you have it. Replacement windows can save you money, but they aren’t the only way to cut your energy costs.
Have any more Tucson, AZ window contractor questions? Contact Olander’s Window Replacement by visiting 4141 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85712 or calling (520) 326-2909.