You probably don’t think twice about the windows in your home, but they provide you with natural light, ventilation and a great view to the outside. Unfortunately, if you live in an older home and have never had the windows replaced, they could be negatively impacting your home’s energy efficiency.

Bitter cold winter weather is just around the corner. Before heating costs rise to seasonal highs, take a look at how much energy you’re wasting – and how much higher your energy bills are – if you have old house windows.

Energy Out the Window?

The US Department of Energy (DOE) reports that windows can contribute to almost 25 percent of your home’s energy bills due to air leaks, poor insulation and solar heat gain in the summer. The DOE also reports that you could lower your energy bills by 7 to 15 percent by replacing your old, single-pane house windows with Energy Star-qualified replacements.

For the average Colorado homeowner, this means you could save up to $266 per year on heating and cooling costs with home window replacement, depending on the size of your home, window orientation, and your energy needs. These savings help your new windows pay for themselves in just a few years.

Choosing the Best Replacement Windows

It’s likely you’ll only get new windows once in your lifetime, so make an educated decision to save the most money this winter and all year round. Look for the following features to ensure you choose the best replacement windows possible:

Double or triple panes: The extra sheets of glass aren’t what allow double- and triple-pane windows to perform more efficiently; it’s the air between them that makes a difference. When this space is filled with non-toxic argon or krypton gas, the window’s ability to insulate increases even more.
Low U-factor: A window’s U-factor is the rate at which it conducts non-solar heat flow. The lower the rating, the less heat flows through the window and the more efficient it is. A low U-factor is a beneficial year-round since you don’t want the heat to flow in during the summer or to flow out during the winter.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC): This rating indicates how much solar radiation passes through a window in the form of heat. A lower SHGC rating is good for the south- and west-facing windows that receive full sun exposure. A higher SHGC rating is good for north- and east-facing windows where full sun isn’t an issue.

If you have single-pane windows and are tired of high energy bills, consider a new window installation before winter strikes. Make sure you select windows that can hold up to Colorado’s weather extremes and deliver the best energy efficiency possible. Talk with an experienced 5280 Exteriors home window installer today for more information.