Here is a video that many homeowners find useful.

There are two types of labels that tell a homeowner the energy efficiency of a product. Since you probably won’t see product with the labels attached until the actual installation date, it’s not a bad idea to ask the salesperson, or take a moment to look them up on the manufacturer’s website. You can also ask how more energy efficient products will impact price and any specific product they may be recommending for your home. Sometimes low cost upgrades can add drastic energy savings you’ll like when the air conditioning bills arrive.

The most important label is from the NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council).  It includes several different performance measurements to consider:

• U-Factor, which measures heat escaping from the inside of a room. You are looking for a low number close to 0.20, which indicates zero heat loss.
• Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, which measures unwanted heat coming into a room. Rock bottom numbers ranging from 0.15 to 0.20 will save the most money on utility bills.
• Visible Transmittance, which measures how much natural light is let into the room. Higher numbers (up to 1.0) are better.
• Air leakage is pretty self-explanatory – who likes drafts? Less than 0.30 is good.

Some product also include an Energy Star label, which signifies it is a certified product that meets Energy Star criteria in their area of the country. Arizona has multiple zones, so it’s important to confirm the rating is for the zone where the home is located. It’s also important to confirm the rating is for the specific product line you are considering, as one manufacturer can have multiple ratings based on location where the windows will be installed, the specific product line, and any upgrades or modifications made to the window. All three factors apply.

Coming soon!

Single-hung, double-hung, casement, sliding… there are multiple operating styles of windows. Which one is the most energy efficient? Casement windows win that bet. Because they are hinged and the crank (0r 0ther closing mechanism, depending on how new they are) firmly pushes them into the frame, creating a tight seal that prevents drafts from hurting their energy efficiency. They are far more efficient than all other options.

Picture windows with fixed panels are second, followed by all styles that have moving panels. Single-hung and sliding windows have only one moving panel, making them marginally more energy efficient than double-hung windows, which hit the bottom of our list for least energy efficient.

This comparison only considers the operating style of the window and assumes all other features are equal, such as the type of materials used in the frame, double- or triple-paned glass, argon gas insulation between the glass panels, and two or more low-e coatings on the glass.

Great news – the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 has increased the amount of credits you can claim for the purchase of energy efficient windows and doors, spanning 2022 through 2032. And even better, it’s now a $1,200 annual cap, instead of a $500 taxpayer lifetime cap.

It will provide up to $600 for windows, $250 per exterior door up to a total of $500, and a total credit cap of $1,200 per year, which includes other qualified energy efficiency improvements (insulation, heat pumps, air sealing, etc.).

States may also be offering their own programs for tax credits on the Arizona income tax filings, thanks to state grants under the same legislature, so be sure to check arizona.gov before filing.

Read our blog post for details: Can Energy Efficient Windows be Claimed on Taxes?

Single-pane windows are an outdated style no longer installed by any reputable window and door companies, with the exception of windows in a space without utilities, such as a garage or sunroom with no heat or air conditioning. There’s no way to add insulation to the glass without multiple panes, and no way to add the types of low-e coatings available on modern windows, since they are applied before glass is inserted into the frames. However, there are a few things you can do.

Adding shade to a window cuts out direct sunlight, although it can’t reduce ambient heat from warming the glass. Trees, awnings and other methods help. There are also after-market films you can adhere to the glass exterior that are better than doing nothing at all; however, keep in mind they don’t deliver the kind of results that can compete with replacing those single-pane windows with new double-pane windows. You can also add drapery inside the home to help block out the sun, although heat will still enter the home between the window glass and the drapery, those drapes will help trap the heat against the window instead of fully entering the home. They also help keep heat inside the home during the winter.

Can you have a glass installer replace the single-pane glass while leaving the existing window frame intact? It’s likely to be almost the same cost as replacing the windows. Plus, a double-pane glass unit is considerably thicker (in terms of depth) than a single pane of glass. The window frame is unlikely to have the depth needed for the new glass insert.