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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