Replace Your Windows For The Sake Of Energy Cost Savings!
There are many reasons why you would consider replacing all of the windows in your home. However, many people are usually very apprehensive about doing it on account of the fact that it can be very expensive particularly if there are many windows to be replaced. There are a few times when the reason to do the replacement is compelling enough for you to overlook this, and one of these is when you are trying to make your home more energy efficient. In a world where energy prices are only increasing, you may find that doing something as simple as using more energy efficient windows can do a lot to reduce the cost of running your home.
The logic behind this
How does this work out? To figure it out, you only need to consider the nature of windows and their role in the home. Windows can be considered as large defects in the walls that are necessary to let in as much light as possible from the outside. However, their presence also means that energy in the form of heat can escape to and from the house, and this means that you would need to spend more to regulate the temperature of the home.
This effect has been studied and it has been found that changing your windows to the more eco-friendly ones will save you up to $500 a year. With the cost of energy rising, this saving is likely to increase in the coming times, which makes it a perfect reason to replace your windows with energy efficient ones as soon as possible. In fact, there are some states where you can get a tax rebate on account of doing this, which just goes to show that this is a proven method of cutting down on energy use.
How does it work?
When you use energy efficient windows, they essentially reduce drastic temperature changes in the house on account of a differential with the outside. For instance, during the winter, the fact that the inside of the house is very warm means that energy will have a tendency to flow from the interior of the home to the exterior. Energy efficient windows such as the double glazed ones have intrinsic insulating properties that reduce this effect.
If the opposite is true and you are trying to keep the house cool instead, you can use windows with a film that will limit the amount of solar radiation that gets into the house, thus heating it up. Such films don’t interfere with visibility that much, so they will still let enough light into the home. The overall effect is that you will need to use your air conditioner at a lower setting, or sometimes not at all.
Cost saving measures you can try out
The prospect of having to replace all your windows can cause some apprehension especially when you consider the cost involved. However, there are a few things that can be tried out to ameliorate this. Some of these include:
- Insist on quality workmanship: Energy efficient windows that are installed using the highest standards will not only result in the greatest savings, but will also last longer thus reducing the need for you to keep spending money on their repair. You will also need to get high quality materials for the job as well.
- Sell the windows you are taking down: Rather than simply keeping the windows you are removing from the home, you can sell them and use the money to pay for part of the replacement. There are many avenues you can use to do this, including auctioning them online to get the best price for them. You can even have them valued by a professional valuer to find out their true value so that you can sell them at the best price possible.
- Don’t be afraid to negotiate with the contractor: Though it might not always work, negotiating with the contractor can also be a good way to reduce the cost of the project. Many people are shy about doing this, but it can end up saving you a good amount of money.
- Find out if you are eligible for any benefits or rebates: In a bid to encourage people to lead more energy efficient lives, there are some states in which you can get some financial benefits on account of having replaced yours. Find out if you are eligible for this and then apply for it. You can use the savings you make to cover for part of the cost of the replacement.
Sometimes, you will find that doing all the above will cover nearly the entire cost of the project, meaning that the replacement will actually cost you a tiny fraction of what you would have paid initially. In summary, if you are interested in making your home use energy more efficiently, consider turning your attention to your windows. You may end up making huge savings!