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Windows, Skylights & Doors Investment, Prices and Payback


Initial Investment on advanced windows, doors and skylights

If you're constructing a new home or doing some major remodeling, do not hesitate on investing in advanced energy efficient windows, doors and skylighgs.,

Obviously the initial cost on advanced energy-efficient windows, doors or skylights is higher than on low quality products. Special glasses can add around $1 per square foot of glazing; gases between glass panes may also more than that... These are not significant differences, but there are other elements as thermal breaks, good insulation, etc, that may turn a good window, or door or skylight significantly more expensive.  

But do not hesitate, even if the difference is significant. You will recover the initial higher investment in a few years. The payback period is usually small, 3-4 years maximum.

With good quality windows your energy bill will be much lower. Since
conventional windows can account for over 25% of the heating and cooling energy bills in a typical household, your savings will be substantial (though dependent of the amount of those bills). You will recovery the initial extra-investment in a short time.


Replacement of old windows, doors and skylights

Obviously, the option is much more difficult to equate when the issue is replacing windows, doors or skylights in reasonable conditions. Is the replacement advantageous in this case?

The payback period is usually much larger in these situations: 8 - 10 years, or more. It depends on your cooling and heating bills. And of the degree of
inefficiency of your present windows, doors or skylights...

According to some sources cited by Toolbase Organization, low-E coating glasses can save around $100 in a typical American home, in a cold climate, while low E2 glasses can reduce heating and cooling costs by $65 per year (over double pane clear glass) in a moderate climate as Tucson, AZ.

If we accept these values, then you will have paybacks of 10 years or so, in case of replacement of single or double clear pane windows.


Investment and payback of windows, doors and skylights with single or double clear glass

If your windows, doors or skylights are truly old and inefficient, and if their replacement is a question of time, then their replacement is certainly well worth... Your comfort gains will be great, the payback short, while helping the planet...

But if your windows, doors and skylights aren't really too old and inefficient, and the question is basically on common aluminium frames or clear glass panes, then to help your decision, try some simple math to obtain the payback period:

- How much are your yearly energy bills (A)?
- How much would be your investment in windows, doors or skylights (B). (To help your on your math, the price of a good advanced window
2' 4-3/8" W x 4' 0" H may around $300 - $400...)
- How much would be your energy saving percentage due to the replacement of the windows, doors and skylights: 20%? 25%? (C).
- Then divide B by A x C.

The final value will correspond broadly to the payback (number of years necessary to recover the initial investment).

If you think the payback of your investment is too high, then opt by minimal improvements, namely weatherstripping and caulking windows, doors and skylights; or use external or internal devices as
blinds, awnings, shades...

Think also in insulating your house, and equate the possibility of tax credits and rebates in the buying process: Tax credits and rebates in windows, doors and skylights
 






  See also:
  Windows, Doors and Skylights basics
  Frames and sashes
  Glass panes
  Advanced Doors
  Skylights
  Weatherstripping
  Caulking
  Rebates and Tax Credits
 
 

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