4 Ways You Can Save Money with Energy-Efficient Windows

There are plenty of great reasons to invest in energy-efficient windows for your Tri-Cities home. For instance, they help keep your house cool or warm depending on the season and can improve curb appeal, making them some of the best home renovations overall.

But energy-efficient windows can also save you money, especially if you replace old or drafty windows with energy-efficient alternatives. Below, we’ll look at the four most common ways you can save money with energy-efficient windows. You can also contact our experts online at Window World of the Tri-Cities to learn about the energy savings you can enjoy with our modern windows.

1. Lower utility bills

For starters, energy-efficient windows can potentially lower your utility bills.

Energy-efficient windows are constructed with multiple panes of glass (usually double or triple-pane glass). Between those layers of durable glass, you’ll find insulating gas like argon or krypton. Energy-efficient windows like this are available in multiple styles, including but not limited to:

• Awning and casement windows
• Single and double-hung windows
• Garden windows

This energy-efficient design, combined with durable frames made of materials like vinyl or fiberglass, means that heat doesn’t transfer through an energy-efficient window’s surface as well as it does with other types of windows.

In the winter, your heater doesn’t have to work nearly as hard to keep your home warm. And your AC won’t struggle to keep things cool and comfortable in the hottest part of the year. In aggregate, that means less electricity use for your household (plus a smaller carbon footprint for your family).

How much can you save on utilities with energy-efficient windows?

Let’s talk hard numbers. On average, energy-efficient windows could help you save about 12% on your energy bills, or approximately $100-$600 per year. Of course, the bigger the household, the more impact a full set of energy-efficient windows can have!

2. Save furniture from fading

Did you know that most energy-efficient windows are made with special glazed coatings that prevent intense UV radiation from getting through? It’s true!

That might not seem like a big deal, especially when it comes to saving a bit of cash. However, those UV rays can cause furniture with fabric, like sofas and chairs, to fade over time. This might be especially noticeable for a couch or chair that sits directly in the path of morning or evening sunlight by a window.

When you swap out old window types with energy-efficient ones, that UV light may not have the same effect. Therefore, your furniture will continue to look good for years to come, and you won’t have to replace those pieces or replace their fabric covers as often.

How much can you save on new furniture with new windows?

This economic benefit is small in comparison to the money you can save from lower utility bills, but it's still worth noting. For example, if you would otherwise need to replace a $1,000 couch, an energy-efficient window might save you that bundle since the couch won't fade from sunlight exposure.

3. Qualify for tax credits/rebates

The federal government wants to incentivize energy-efficient remodeling and home upgrades for homeowners around the country. When you install energy-efficient replacement windows as a Tri-Cities homeowner, you might also qualify for certain tax credits, saving some extra money during tax season.

In addition, your local or state government might have its own tax credits or rebates for you to take advantage of. The more of these tax credits and rebates you add to your tax return, the more money you’ll walk away with after accounting for all your home upgrades throughout the year!

How much money can you get on tax rebates with energy-efficient windows?

Local tax rebates and credits can vary, but federal tax benefits for energy-efficient windows and other home improvements are cut and dry. For example, if you purchase and install ENERGY STAR-certified windows, you could claim up to 30% of up to $1,200 in home renovation costs on your tax return.

Say that you spend $1,200 on replacing every window in your home with an energy-efficient model. Fill out your tax return and claim the ENERGY STAR rebate, and you could get $360 deducted from your gross income – which might lead to a higher tax return!

4. Improve the resale value of your Tri-Cities home

Technically, energy-efficient windows don’t help you save money by improving your property’s resale value. But they could help you earn a bit of extra cash by making your Tri-Cities home more attractive to prospective homebuyers than other window types, thereby allowing you to charge a higher asking price.

Energy-efficient windows look great – especially when they’re wide and expansive like Window World's picture windows – so they boost curb appeal. But they also represent potential future energy savings for anyone who might want to buy your home. Since they come with your property, you can ask for thousands of dollars more when you put your home on the market.

With the extra money you make from investing in energy-efficient windows now, you can make a larger down payment on another home to secure a better mortgage, finance a home upgrade or remodel for your next property, or something else entirely. It’s up to you!

How much can energy-efficient windows improve home resale value??

Depending on the size of your home and how many energy-efficient windows you install before putting it on the market, you could add several thousand dollars to your asking price. You just have to make sure your real estate agent shows them to potential homebuyers and points out their energy-efficient window styles.

Just how much money are we talking? On average, replacing all the vinyl windows in a single-family home adds $13,766 in value to that property – meaning you can increase your asking price for your home if you ever decide to sell. If you want to move and buy another house immediately after, that extra money might more than cover closing costs or other expenses, like moving fees.

In total, how much money can you save with energy-efficient windows?

When all is said and done, energy-efficient windows can save you thousands of dollars over the years to come. The earlier you invest in energy-efficient windows, the better. Imagine, for example, that you swap out a series of windows on the first floor of your Tri-Cities house. Each year, you save $500 in utility bills. Ten years later, you’ve saved $5,000 compared to what you would have had to pay to keep your home warm or cool all that time.

Additionally, you can take advantage of tax rebates and pocket a few hundred dollars in the same year that you install eco-friendly upgrades. For example, if you install a set of energy-efficient windows in 2024, your tax return for that year might indeed be a little higher – who doesn’t want extra bucks at the end of tax season?

Then, you put your home on the market. Thanks to the energy-efficient window upgrades you invested in previously, you can ask for more money from prospective homebuyers. In situations like this, it’s easy to see why energy-efficient windows are some of the most cost-effective upgrades you can choose for your Tri-Cities house!

With so many ways energy-efficient windows can help you pocket some extra cash, investing in a few upgraded windows might be a wise idea. Don’t delay; call 423-212-2573 or visit your local Window World of the Tri-Cities to browse lots of stellar windows and find the perfect options for your property! Check out our showroom today or request a free quote online.