Are Energy- Efficient Windows Worth It?

"Replacing an old window with any newer, better-designed model is likely to save you some on energy bills, but if you want to ensure savings, buy an Energy Star certified model. The Energy Star program, which is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, estimates that installing new Energy Star certified windows can save the average homeowner 12 to 13 percent on their home energy bills. Every new window includes a label indicating its energy efficiency, including whether it’s Energy Star certified.

How much you save will vary based on where you live as well as what type of window you’re replacing. For example, in the EPA’s Northern Zone of the country—roughly the northern half of the U.S.—replacing 10 inefficient single-pane windows with new Energy Star models could save homeowners an average of $366 a year in heating and cooling costs, a 22 percent savings. But homeowners in that region would save only $134, or 9 percent, if they were replacing double-pane windows. The cost of energy is also a factor: In Connecticut, where the average annual energy bill is about $1,875, your savings would be about $225 a year. In Colorado, where the average annual energy bill is $1,104, the estimated annual savings would be $132.

You can save more by installing a replacement window from Energy Star’s Most Efficient Window list. Through 2032, you can claim a 30 percent federal tax credit on that expenditure, up to $600 a year, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022. To maximize the credit, you could stagger your window replacements over several years and get the credit each time."

Tobie Stanger, Choosing Replacement Windows, October 19, 2023

https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/replacement-windows/buying-guide/