From Replacement Windows to Window Coverings: Make Windows More Energy Efficient
Just as spring is a great time to spruce up your home’s curb appeal, the arrival of cooler fall temperatures is a great time to think about your home’s windows. There’s nothing worse on cold winter nights than drafty, naked windows. Shorter days mean more awake hours indoors after sundown; unless your nearest neighbors are miles away, window treatments are essential for your family’s privacy after dark. And old windows plus the wrong window coverings are a recipe for a chilly winter at home. These are all great reasons to put refreshing your home windows on your getting-ready-for-winter to-do list.
Whether you’re looking to buy a new home (and sell your current one!), or just hoping to save some money on your winter heating costs, updating your home’s windows can make a huge difference in appearance as well as energy efficiency. And it’s never too late to improve window energy efficiency for the winter ahead.
Read on for tips on everything from the most inexpensive DIY options for improving window energy efficiency – while improving your home’s appearance! – to how to upgrade your home to the best rated energy efficient windows.
This is a collaboration post. However, please know I stand behind everything written here, and only include links to products/services/resources I’m willing to recommend personally.
How To Make Old Windows More Energy Efficient
Depending on your budget and time, there are lots of ways to make windows more energy efficient. This post will cover three main categories:
- ways to insulate windows for winter,
- ways to make your windows more energy efficient with home window coverings, and
- how to choose replacement windows.
1. How to Insulate Windows for Winter (Cost: $-$$)
There are several easy and inexpensive ways to insulate your windows for less heat loss during winter. A good first step is seeing if your electric provider offers a free home energy audit (many do). They can give you expert tips, and might even also give you supplies for a head start.
But even if your electric supplier doesn’t offer free or low-cost energy audits, it’s easy to check for window drafts by holding a lighted candle near each window in your house. A flickering flame will indicate the strength and direction of drafts. (And for larger windows, like the large double window in Essie’s room, just holding your hand near the glass on a cold day makes clear how much cold air is seeping right in through the old, not-very-efficient window material itself.)
Once you’ve located your drafts, inspect the window to see what measures might best help slow the transfer of heat out and cold air in. For windows in older homes, some new caulk or weatherstripping can go a long way toward blocking drafts. Or consider clear, removable weatherstripping tape if everything looks intact but you still feel drafts around the edges. (You can also use this tape over a cracked pane of glass.)
Or, if the cold seems to be seeping in through the glass itself, consider sealing the entire window for winter. Winterizing kits for windows are inexpensive, and include shrink film you apply over the glass to create an extra layer of draft-blocking insulation.
2. Make Windows More Energy Efficient with Window Coverings (Cost: $$-$$$)
The best window treatments and home window coverings can certainly make your home more beautiful, but did you know they’re also a great way to improve window energy efficiency? If replacing your home’s current windows with the best energy efficient windows is beyond your budget right now, buying new insulating and weatherizing kits every year can add up over time; investing in window treatments that help insulate your home can be a great investment that’s more affordable in the short term.
There are so many different types of window coverings to choose from, including insulating curtains (perfect for bedrooms as they’re also room-darkening), energy-efficient tinted film coverings, and assorted shades and blinds. While you can custom-order any of these items for rooms throughout your home, there are plenty of off-the-shelf options available for purchase at local retailers or online. You’ll just need to measure carefully, and think ahead of time about installation options (for example, will you mount shades and blinds within the opening, or outside?).
So if your windows are currently covered with gauzy curtains perfect for catching summer breezes, consider swapping them out for some insulated energy efficiency curtains for the winter. Your heating bills will thank you. Or instead, you could always add some new blinds or shades. Even some interior shutters in a bedroom can be a decorative touch that blocks both drafts and light, making your home seem cozier this winter season.
3. Upgrading Your Home to the Most Energy Efficient Windows (Cost: $$$$-$$$$$)
As you’re inspecting your home during your energy audit, you may notice old windowsills that are rotting out. If so, you may have to bite the bullet and replace that window ASAP, to avoid serious structural damage to your home from leaks through the rotten sill. It’s because of situations like this that we have slowly replaced all the back windows on the first floor of our house over the past decade-plus, one at a time.
But if you’re in a position to invest the necessary time and money, and your draft check indicates your windows are leaking heat and letting in the cold, then upgrading your windows is one of the best ways I know how to improve energy efficiency in your home.
Dear Husband and I are currently doing the research on replacing the rest of our home’s windows (which, let’s face it, have needed it since we bought this home over a decade ago, as the photos above indicate). Here is what we’ve learned so far about the choices you’ll need to make:
a. Choosing window brand and installer
When deciding on replacement windows, of course you’ll want to compare bids from several reputable companies. You can always ask neighbors or coworkers for recommendations. But if you don’t know anyone who’s had new windows installed recently, just do an internet search for local companies in your area that specialize in replacement windows. For example, if you live in Vancouver, you could search for window replacement in Vancouver to find companies in that area.
In our experience, the most reputable companies often install only one or two brands of replacement windows. They often choose the brand of window they’ll install based on the manufacturer’s quality, reputation, and warranty. But it doesn’t hurt to do your own research. Ask for brochures from the brand(s) of windows they prefer, and check out the warranties for yourself on the manufacturer’s website. Also see if the warranty is transferrable to the new owner if you sell the house.
b. Stylistic choices for window replacement
Consider the character of your home’s exterior and your neighborhood when choosing replacement windows. Will you want grids in your panes, or no grids? For classic double vs. single hung, do you want double-hung with screens on the full window (meaning you can open it from top AND bottom for better air circulation), or only half-screens and single-hung? What color will you want on the exterior of your windows? And while vinyl replacement windows might be the most cost-effective choice, they’re not the only option.
Also consider the shape or style of how your window will open. Here’s a quick crash course on the different window style options:
- Single-hung windows and double-hung windows come in a top and bottom half. To open the window, you push up the bottom half (and,/or for double-hung, pull down the top half).
- Casement windows have handles that allow you to crank the window open sideways, so the window angles outward away from your house as it opens.
- Sliding windows slide back and forth on a track, allowing one or both sides to open. Because it’s easy to not quite close them all the way, this can be the least energy-efficient type (most prone to leaks and drafts).
- Awning windows and hopper windows are perfect for small spaces such as high-up windows in basement rooms. Hopper windows hinge at the bottom, and the window tilts inward at top to open. Awning windows are hinged on top, and crank outward at the bottom to allow air flow. A black hopper window can add a modern touch to your space while also providing excellent ventilation to a lower-level room. But if you live somewhere with lots of rain, an awning window (which will better block rain coming in) might make more sense.
c. What incentives, rebates, and tax credits are available?
Finally, check to see if you might have any federal or local cash-back programs, tax credits, or other incentives for upgrading your current windows to more energy-efficient models. The easiest way to do this is, again, by researching online for energy efficient window upgrade rebate programs where you live.
It’s worth asking the installation companies you seek estimates from what they know about these programs. But be sure to do your own homework as well. For example, at the time of this writing (late 2024), the U.S. federal government offers a 30% rebate for upgrading your windows to more energy-efficient models – but there is a lot of fine print. In particular, you can claim a maximum of $600 per year for upgrading your windows to the most efficient Energy-Star rated models (which is required to get the tax credit). Because you can claim the credit more than once, it may make more financial sense to upgrade a few windows at a time each year, rather than doing them all at once.
Your turn:
What steps have you taken to improve the energy efficiency of your home’s windows? Now that you’ve read this post, what will you try next for making old windows energy efficient? Let us know in the comments!
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These tips are so helpful for preparing windows for winter! I especially love the idea of adding insulating curtains – such an easy and affordable way to boost energy efficiency.
You’ll be amazed at how much they can cut down on those horrible winter drafts!