Cutting Your Electric Bill with Replacement Windows
Everybody’s looking for ways to save, especially on recurring costs that drain your monthly spending budget. Utilities are a modern necessity, but to many homeowners, it just seems like it costs more and more every year to power your home.
Energy costs are in fact on the rise, but did you know that there are ways to make a difference? You can cut down on your monthly energy bill by making some smart swaps. Sure, you can invest in high-efficiency appliances, but many of these machines come at such a high price tag that it can take several years for you to actually see a net savings. You can make sure you keep TVs and lights off in unoccupied rooms, but that only makes a marginal difference.
One way you can really make a difference on energy costs is to buy replacement windows. Companies that offer window glass repair and replacement services can offer smart swaps that can help you see tremendous, immediate energy savings. Here’s why you should consider replacement windows.
Why Windows Matter
Your windows actually have a huge influence on your energy costs. The U.S. Department of Energy found window energy loss responsible for a whopping 25% of annual heating and cooling costs. Window energy loss refers to the amount of heat and cold transferred through windows. Lower-quality windows will let in more heat in the summer and release warm indoor air during the winter. That’s because poor-quality windows offer little in the way of temperature insulation and sunlight protection. This makes your home 25% more expensive to heat or cool to comfortable indoor conditions. After all, your heater or air conditioner must work harder, run for longer periods of time, and use more energy to meet your demands, all while your windows are working against them!
Window energy loss is so expensive for the average American home that the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Savers guide strongly recommends upgrading your windows. This can help make up for that 25% heating and cooling cost spike.
Low Builder Standards
Most new homes are built with incredibly cheap, inefficient windows. Sadly, that’s the builder standard: keeping costs low and profits high. So your home may have come with standard windows that look nice enough, but don’t offer much in the way of energy savings. But don’t let the initial cost fool you. Remember, lower-cost windows are lower quality, too, and you’ll end up paying higher energy costs on a consistent basis to make up for the window energy loss in cheap windows.
A Better Alternative
So, what types of windows should your home have? Install Energy Star-certified windows, or windows that meet high efficiency standards. These windows are better at filtering sunlight to block heat from the outdoors and reflect back your indoor heat in the winter to prevent loss of warm, comfortable air. Sun-control films, strategic installation of windows based on their directional orientation, and double-pane windows with low U-ratings—windows that transfer less heat—will help cut your energy costs tremendously. In fact, Energy Star found that Virginia homeowners who upgrade from cheap, single-pane windows to high-efficiency, double-pane windows can save up to 20% on their annual energy costs!
If you’re ready to cut your energy bill by installing replacement windows, contact Northern VA Glass. We offer window glass replacement and can recommend affordable, high-efficiency window products that can save you money. If you want to make a difference in your home, the choice is clear: upgrade your windows and start seeing savings by your next utility bill.
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