Before buying a new heating or cooling system, it makes sense to tighten up your house first. The following steps will reduce your heating and cooling load, improve your comfort, and maybe even allow you to purchase a smaller—and less expensive—furnace or air conditioner when the time comes to replace your existing system.

Step 1: Consider an Energy Audit
Step 2: Find and Seal Air Leaks
Step 3: Insulate
Step 4: Upgrade Inefficient Windows & Doors
Step 5: Replace Old Windows

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Windows can be one of your home’s most attractive features. Windows provide views, daylighting, ventilation, and solar heating in the winter. Unfortunately, they can also account for 10% to 25% of your heating bill. During the summer, your air conditioner must work harder to cool hot air from sunny windows. Install ENERGY STAR windows and use curtains and shade to give your air conditioner and energy bill a break. If you live in the Sun Belt, look into low-e windows, which can cut the cooling load by 10% to 15%.

If your home has single-pane windows, as many U.S. homes do, consider replacing them with new double-pane windows with high-performance glass (e.g., low-e or spectrally selective). In colder climates, select windows that are gas filled with low emissivity (low-e) coatings on the glass to reduce heat loss. In warmer climates, select windows with spectrally selective coatings to reduce heat gain. If you are building a new home, you can offset some of the cost of installing more efficient windows because they allow you to buy smaller, less expensive heating and cooling equipment.

If you decide not to replace your windows, the simpler, less costly measures listed here can improve their performance.

Cold-Climate Window Tips

• You can use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Remember, the plastic must be sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.
• Install tight-fitting, insulating window shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.
• Close your curtains and shades at night; open them during the day.
• Keep windows on the south side of your house clean to let in the winter sun.
• Install exterior or interior storm windows; storm windows can reduce heat loss through the windows by 25% to 50%. Storm windows should have weatherstripping at all movable joints; be made of strong, durable materials; and have interlocking or overlapping joints. Low-e storm windows save even more energy.
• Repair and weatherize your current storm windows, if necessary.

Warm-Climate Window Tips

• Install white window shades, drapes, or blinds to reflect heat away from the house.
• Close curtains on south- and west-facing windows during the day.
• Install awnings on south- and west-facing windows.
• Apply sun-control or other reflective films on south-facing windows to reduce solar gain.

Long-Term Savings Tip

• Installing, high-performance windows will improve your home’s energy performance. While it may take many years for new windows to pay off in energy savings, the benefits of added comfort and improved aesthetics and functionality may make the investment worth it to you. Many window technologies are available that are worth considering.

Efficient windows may have two or more panes of glass, warm-edge spacers between the window panes, improved framing materials, and low-e coating(s), which are microscopically thin coatings that help keep heat inside during the winter and outside during the summer.

Shopping Tips for Windows

• Look for the ENERGY STAR label.
• Check with local utilities to see what rebates or other financial incentives are available for window replacement.
• High-performance windows have at least two panes of glass and a low-e (low emissivity) coating.
• Remember, the lower the U-factor, the better the insulation. In colder climates, focus on finding a low U-factor.
• Low solar heat gain coefficients (SHGCs) reduce heat gain. In warm climates, look for a low SHGC.
• In temperate climates with both heating and cooling seasons, select windows with both low U-factors and low SHGCs to maximize energy savings.
• Look for whole-unit U-factors and SHGCs, rather than center-of-glass, or COG, U-factors and SHGCs. Whole-unit numbers more accurately reflect the energy performance of the entire product.
• Have your windows installed by trained professionals. Be sure they’re installed according to manufacturer’s instructions; otherwise, your warranty may be void.

Source

Having a 1/16-inch unsealed crack around a window is like leaving that window open 3 inches. Decrease your heating bill and your energy use by sealing up air leaks.

Wood – Attractive and thermally efficient, but needs regular maintenance and is prone to decay.

Clad (either vinyl or aluminum) – Most of the advantages of wood, but with lower maintenance. Color choices are more limited.

Extruded vinyl – Low cost, low maintenance, and nearly as energy efficient as wood. Large windows may bow or warp in hot weather.

Extruded Aluminum – Durable and low maintenance, but will transfer heat and cold without an effective thermal break.

Fiberglass – Stronger than vinyl, thermally efficient. Must be painted on both the interior and exterior.

Heat transfer is expressed as U-value. The lower the U-value, the more energy efficient the window.

Solar gain is an asset in cold climates but a liability in hot ones. Solar gain in measured on a scale of 0 to 1, which is called the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC). A higher number indicates more solar gain. Suggested ratings are as follows: Northern U.S. – .55 or above; Southern U.S. – .40 or below; temperate climates – .40 to .55.

Air leakage is measured in cubic feet per minute (cfm)per square foot of glass. The higher the number, the leakier the window. A rate of less than .30 indicates a good seal.

Visible transmittance (VT) is the amount of light that comes through a window. This is one factor you can judge yourself simply by comparing the views through different windows.

Once you have determined whether you want internal or external shutters, choose what style you prefer. Solid or louvre panels are most common – some louvre designs are adjustable so you can control the amount of light that you let in. Manufacturers may offer a range of other options, such as tongue-and-groove, solid panels with designs cut out of them, or shutters that only cover the lower half of the window. Shutters can be made of traditional wood, as well as aluminum and a range of other materials. Wooden shutters require more regular maintenance than other materials such as aluminium. Whatever material you choose, it is worth buying pre-fininished shutters – louvred shutters are very time consuming to paint. Shutters are sometimes supplied with cathes to hold closed and tie-backs to secure them in an open position.

I’ve used bubble wrap on windows for two three years now, and I’m amazed how quick and easy it is.  This year, we are even covering the windows in the guest room — we just take the bubble wrap down when guests come, and put it back up when they leave — 15 seconds a window. Read more…

According to the US Department of Energy, as much as 10-25% of your heating and cooling bills can be attributed to energy lost through leaky windows. If your windows are outdated, your home’s energy efficiency may not be up to par. Well sealed new windows can lessen the heat transfer in and out of your home and ultimately be the answer to your energy cost savings. If you don’t think window replacement is a do-it-yourself job for you, save time and aggravation by hiring a contractor.

Contractor Hiring Tips
Before you hire a windows contractor here are a few things to consider:

• Determine the style, materials and fixtures you want. Be as specific as possible for a more accurate estimate
• Create a budget. Educate yourself on what is available and pair it with what you want.
• Get three estimates from licensed, reputable contractors. Use online referral sites and ask your friends and neighbors. Make sure each contractor has the same specifications so the estimates are comparable.
• Compare the pricing, materials, and lead times for each estimate.
• Make sure you have a written home improvement contract with your contractor including your contractor’s name, address, and phone number. The document should include: start and end dates, a detailed description of the windows installation, a list of the materials to be used, details of payment, and the contractor’s signature and license number.

Once you have a signed, written contract that details the job, there’s no disputing the original agreement. In the end you’ll enjoy the view from your window and energy savings.