Living in the desert southwest, summertime energy costs are always top of mind for me. We average about 300 sunny days per year and summertime temps that often exceed 115F. That’s a lot of sunshine! This is the reason why replacing my windows has been a top priority for me ever since I purchased my home. Below, I go over why I made the switch to energy efficient windows and the factors I considered in making my decision.
Cutting down on energy costs
It was during the first summer in the new home that I realized I had to make some energy efficiency improvements. The AC unit was running non-stop day and night. I was able to maintain a comfortable 78 degrees, but it came at a high cost. The first thing I did was pull up the home inspection report to see if there was anything that stuck out. When the inspector checked out the attic, he noted that the insulation height was below recommended levels. With that information, I decided to have more insulation blown in.
The additional insulation definitely helped. I noticed a marked reduction in how often the AC unit was running. Although this was a welcome improvement, the rooms on the west-facing side of the house still got warm quickly, especially close to the windows.
Budget friendly energy efficient window solution
According to energy.gov, 25-30% of residential heating and cooling use can be attributed to energy loss through windows. That’s a lot of money going out the window, literally! One thing I noticed when driving around the neighborhood was people using dark window screen coverings. After some research, I decided to invest about $80 and buy some solar screen and frames from the local hardware store. After rolling the screen onto the frames, I fitted them over my westward-facing windows.
The results? To my surprise, they significantly reduced the heat coming through the windows. Unfortunately, this came with the downside of much darker rooms during the day and obstructed views. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly way of keeping the heat out and aren’t concerned about views or using artificial light, these could be a great solution. I ended up using the screens for a couple of years but decided I needed a more robust solution that provides thermal protection while also allowing me to see out of the window.
Energy-efficient windows
Not long after I decided to start looking into replacing my windows, my tiny bathroom window broke. My house backs up to a school field and one day some kids were throwing rocks at the block wall. Unfortunately, one of those rocks went over the wall and hit my window. Great timing!
I started doing some research on energy efficient windows and was quickly hit with talk of U-Factors, solar heat gain coefficients, visible transmittance, and air leakage stats. As it turns out, these metrics are really important when it comes to energy efficiency. You can read all about these metrics on the National Fenestration Rating Council’s website. I reached out to a local window company, RMK Windows & Blinds, and purchased the most energy-efficient windows they had available for the west-facing side of my house.
Given all the craziness around the pandemic, it did take a bit for the window order to come through. But it was absolutely worth the wait! The west side of the house is much cooler, I can leave my blinds open during the day, and most importantly, I can see clearly out of my windows. Oh yeah, and there’s the added benefit of the windows keeping out most of the outside noise.
Even though these windows are dual pane like my previous ones, there’s no comparison. Had I known that changing out the windows would result in this level of heat and sound reduction, I would have changed them out sooner. A couple of weeks after the install, I called the window company and ordered windows for the rest of the house.
Should you replace your windows?
If you’re looking to increase your home’s energy efficiency, take a look at your windows. Given that 25-30% of a home’s energy use can be attributed to energy loss through the windows, it’s the best place to start. If you do decide to replace your windows, read up on efficiency stats on the NFRC website and speak with your local window company about your options. You might be able to save some money not only on your energy bills but possibly on your tax bill as well. And as you may already know, I’m a big fan of reducing expenses and saving money.