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Windows

How Much Do Energy Efficient Windows Cost?

Average cost range:

$473 - $3,109

The average replacement cost for energy efficient windows with an Energy Star rating ranges from $473 to $3,109 per window. Costs can vary by brand, window type and material, and which energy saving features you choose. You will also incur installation and labor costs, which should be around $70 to $150 per window.

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What Are Energy Efficient Windows?

Energy efficient windows, also known as energy saving windows, are designed to prevent your heated or cooled air escaping from your home. Their increased insulation reduces your home’s energy usage—and therefore, your bills!—while also making your home more comfortable overall. See the factors that make a window energy efficient below.

Triple pane energy efficient windows diagram

How Much Can You Save with Energy Efficient Windows? 

One thing is for sure: leaky, aging windows on your home are not doing your utility bills any favors. Single pane windows just can not beat the energy performance of quality double pane energy-efficient windows. In fact, the Department of Energy estimates that you can save $125 to $465 dollars a year just from replacing windows with new window Energy Star windows.

According to Rob Gruber, the Vice President of Manufacturing at Champion Windows, opting for energy-efficient double pane windows when buying new windows for your home is a smart choice for several reasons:

“The long-term cost saving potential of energy-efficient windows is often overlooked by homeowners. These windows use insulated glass and low emissivity (low-e) technology to minimize heat gain and heat loss, and naturally regulate your home’s internal temperatures to comfortable levels. After installing energy-efficient windows, homeowners can recoup as much as 30 percent of their typical monthly energy bill costs moving forward. It is well worth the investment.”

         — Rob Gruber, VP of Manufacturing at Champion Windows

This means that if a homeowner who currently spends about $200 on monthly energy bills installs Energy Star windows with insulated glasses, they could thereafter save up to $700 or more per year after installing the new windows. Your savings could be even greater depending on which windows you are replacing and the climate of your area. In fact, Energy Star studies show that replacing single pane windows with double pane can save between 21% and 31% off of heating and cooling costs.

But in the long run, how much of a difference does that really make to your home’s overall energy consumption? Especially when you consider that an energy efficient window can costs anywhere between $473 to $3,109 installed?

If you are updating all the windows in your home from single pane windows to Energy Star double paned windows with high energy-efficiency, then your investment will yield a much more noticeable amount in energy savings on utility bills. However, if you were to upgrade only one replacement window in your home you might not notice much of a valuable difference as far as energy costs go and the cost to install new windows.

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Are Energy Efficient Windows Worth it?

Whether efficient windows are worth it really boils down to the type of windows you are replacing. If you have single pane windows with warped wood frames, for instance, you are probably going to notice a significant difference in your utility bills. However, most homes are probably not in this situation. Most of the top home window manufacturers will offer energy efficient upgrades.

Many houses already have double pane windows installed, and the energy savings for replacing regular double pane windows with ENERGY STAR rated products is much more modest. The Department of Energy estimates that a window installation as the one discussed above will save you around $27 to $111 per year, so it might take you much longer to earn back the cost of your initial investment in new windows.

However, energy savings are not the only way to calculate the worth of a new window installation. New windows also increase your home’s property value. In fact, installing a set of  new vinyl windows could add as much as $12,000 to your home’s selling price, meaning they’re a pretty smart idea if you’re getting ready to list your property or plan to sell your home in the future. Read more about how energy efficient can windows can make a difference for your utility bills.

ENERGY STAR Windows

One of the quickest and easiest ways to find energy-efficient windows is to look for the Energy Star logo. Energy Star windows are highly efficient and need to meet a variety of standards and restrictions in order to earn the badge.

energy star ratings

  • Energy Star windows for northern climates are designed to let in infrared light that causes heat generation, so they trap warm air inside your home. These windows are double or triple paned, and their low U-factor proves their insulating capabilities.
  • Energy Star windows for southern climates are made to keep heat out of the home. Their low U-factor also proves their insulation value, making them a highly efficient choice for warmer climates.

Energy Star Tax Credits

An Energy Star tax credit was available to anyone installing Energy Star windows in their homes for up to $200 each, and a maximum of $500 overall, available up until 2014. Now that credit has expired, but other local incentives are still available. For instance, customers in West Oregon, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and a range of other locations all qualify for a mail-in rebate program when purchasing the right type of energy efficient windows. Some locations also offer low-interest loans to utility customers installing efficient windows. Check with your local installers and distributors to find out about available incentives and rebates.

Apart from Energy Star, there are some other window ratings and standards to help you understand window performance based on your home’s requirement and where you live, like NFRC label, AAMA, solar heat gain and R Factor.

What Makes a Window Energy Efficient? 

There are a few factors that will make your new home windows energy efficient and help you save money in the long run. A window becomes energy efficient when it has multiple window glass panes – double paned or triple paned glass windows, high quality window frames, low-e glass coatings, has argon or krypton gas filled in between window panes, and has window pane spacers installed. These energy efficient features all help curate the perfect window for energy savings. We discuss more about each of these energy efficient factors below.
energy efficient window types

Multiple Window Glass Panes

Energy efficient double paned windows and triple pane windows are made up of multiple sheets of glass sandwiched together with spacers. These multi-layer constructions create air pockets between the layers of glass, which are sealed shut to prevent any air from entering or escaping. Finally, they are filled with different gases to increase their efficiency.

Quality Window Frame Materials

Installing an energy-efficient window is necessary for saving energy, but it will not do you much good if the window frame is not efficient as well. Generally, aluminum windows are the least efficient, even when they have a thermal window break in them. These windows simply conduct heat too well to be very efficient.

Energy efficient windows can be paired with composite, vinyl windows, fiberglass windows and also wooden window frames, or clad-wood windows which are highly energy efficient. High quality frame materials will reduce the transfer of heat and insulate your windows better leading to more efficient heating and cooling in your home.

Low-E Glass Coatings

Low-e or low-emissivity coatings are an effective way to keep heat inside your home in the winter or to keep it out of your home in the summer. These coatings are designed to control the way the heat energy from sunlight moves around. An exterior low-e coating can prohibit the ultraviolet and the infrared light, in other words, the heat from entering your home while still allowing the sunlight to pass through.

In northern climates when heat gain is more desirable, a low-e coating is often used in the reverse. The full spectrum of light is allowed into the home as much as possible, but the heat energy it produces is trapped inside. This creates a powerful greenhouse effect that keeps a home extra warm during the coldest months of the year.

Window Gas Fills

Energy-efficient windows will often have gas fills between window panes which help insulate your new home windows better. There are argon, krypton, and other gases that can be filled inside, all of which are non-toxic, odorless, and colorless.

Window Spacers

When there are spacers installed on windows at the perfect distance apart in-between glass panes. There are non metal and metal hybrid spacers insulate the window pane edges which in turn reduces heat transfer and improves energy efficiency.


Energy Star VT Ratings Windows

The VT (visible transmittance) rating of a window shows how much visible light can pass through the windows. For windows on a darker room, like a home theater, the VT rating should be low, but for brighter spaces, like your kitchen windows, you will want to avoid low VT levels.

Low-e coatings are slightly tinted and when you get several of them—or other special glass treatments—you can actually block quite a bit of light from your home overall. The added layers of glass, even when they are clear, can block out quite a bit of light. This adds up and you will ultimately lose a lot of free visible light, requiring you to rely on electric lights more often during the day.


Energy Efficient Window Installers

Energy efficient windows are only a good investment when they are installed properly, so take the time to find a reputable installation technician. Do your research by reading reviews and talking with potential installers before hiring—and always get an estimate before you move forward with a job. And finally, make sure that the installer handles the type of windows that you want on your home. Some manufacturers will include installation, and all installers should offer some type of warranty on their work. A local home window installer in your area will be able to help you plan your window installation in correlation with your budget for energy efficient windows.

Quality energy efficient windows can save you quite a bit of money over time by decreasing your home’s energy output and lowering your monthly expenses. They will also give you superior performance for decades and increase your home’s value overall. Best of all, they will be offsetting your carbon footprint, which means that by choosing energy efficient windows, you are living a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Going green has never been so appealing!


Efficiency Windows Benefit Some Homes More Than Others

The big takeaway here is that efficient windows will be a better investment in some homes than others, especially when paired with other energy-saving improvements like air sealing and insulation. However, if you already have double pane windows installed in your home, upgrading to ENERGY STAR windows does not offer the best savings—especially compared with the cost-to-value benefits you will get with attic insulation, for instance.

Each home’s energy profile is unique. Energy efficient windows might make a huge difference in one home, and have much less impact in the next. That is where audits come in. A home energy audit can help you assess the different parts of your home that can affect your overall energy consumption—and prioritize the improvements you need. That way, if you do choose to install energy efficient windows, you will not be losing all the benefits to leaky seals or bad insulation.

And don’t discount the value of more comfortable and quieter home, which is all yours when you install new windows. That’s one benefit you can not quantify!

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