Heat lost through your windows accounts for up to 25 percent of your heating bill. So it's a no-brainer that switching to energy-efficient windows will save your family money on energy bills. According to Energy Star, a joint venture between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, households can lower their energy bills by 7 percent to 15 percent, if they upgrade to energy efficient windows.
Typical Savings
A typical household will save between $27 and $465 a year by switching to energy-efficient windows, according to Energy Star. Such a wide range of potential savings makes it crucial for you to estimate more accurately how much you will personally save from your investment. After all, changing your windows is only one of many ways you can improve your home's energy efficiency.
Single Vs Double Panes
How much you'll save when switching windows will depend to a large extent on what type of window you already have. According to Energy Star, the owners of an average home will save $126 to $465 every year if they switch from single-pane windows to energy-efficient windows that meet the U.S. Environment Protection Agency guidelines. On the other hand, if you already have double-pane windows, your savings will range from $27 to $111 a year.
Location
Where you live is another important variable when calculating energy bill savings. If you live in areas with moderate winters, such as California, Florida and the West South Central region, you will save from $126 to $266 a year by replacing single-pane windows with energy-efficient windows. On the other hand, if you live in areas with cold winters, such as New England and the Northwest, the savings could rack up to $465 a year.
Alternatives
Even if you decide that replacing your home's windows doesn't make financial sense, there are still steps you can take to minimize the loss of heat through your windows and save money on your energy bills. For instance, the U.S. Department of Energy suggests you install tight-fitting insulating window shades. Shades will reduce cold drafts during the night and can be opened during the day, which will allow sunlight to help with warming your home . Another efficient way of reducing heat loss is to install storm windows, interior or exterior, which will reduce heat loss through your windows by up to 50 percent.
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Writer Bio
Andrew Latham has worked as a professional copywriter since 2005 and is the owner of LanguageVox, a Spanish and English language services provider. His work has been published in "Property News" and on the San Francisco Chronicle's website, SFGate. Latham holds a Bachelor of Science in English and a diploma in linguistics from Open University.