Does installation of energy efficient doors, windows cost more than installation of normal doors and windows?
gogreenworld
| Posted in Energy Efficiency and Durability on
Found this ( https://www.clerawindows.com/blog/how-you-can-save-on-energy-costs/) article about saving money by using energy efficient doors, windows, water and sewage system at home. I think it’s interesting and would like to implement this in my house. But does this mean the initial cost of installing all these will be higher than how much it usually costs? Has anyone tried this?
GBA Detail Library
A collection of one thousand construction details organized by climate and house part
Search and download construction details
Replies
GoGreenWorld,
The web page you have linked to is not a reputable source of energy-saving information. This information from a window replacement company is designed to convince you to hire the company to replace your windows. The company is more interested in selling windows than lowering your energy bills.
Replacing your existing windows with new windows is almost never a cost-effective way to save energy.
For accurate information on windows, see this GBA article: What Should I Do With My Old Windows?
If you are building a new house, and you are interested in the question, "Does installation of energy efficient doors, windows cost more than installation of normal doors and windows?" the answer is, "Usually not, but some flangeless European windows install differently from U.S. windows with flanges, and this fact can confuse inexperienced American workers."
If you like your windows and you keep them open a large part of the year for fresh air and a nice breeze, you are better off with winter time inserts which give you a better U value than most box store double hung (double pane) windows. Much less costly than new windows and you just stick them in late fall and pull them back out come spring. There are a number of reputable manufactures of these heavy duty double plastic interior storm inserts depending on your location. If you keep the windows closed most of the year because you like your AC cold or heating hot, then you would have to go the full boat with good triple pane windows with a minimum .16-.2 U rating. Those will cost more to install and it may be difficult to find a contractor who will also seal up the surrounding window frame to prevent heat loss around the nice new window.
It WILL make a difference in comfort only if you've done everything else to your house first in regards to energy saving per this Web Site.
PK