With people spending more time at home because of the pandemic, many have witnessed an increase in utility bills. A recent study by Steve Cicala, an economics professor at Tufts, found that household electricity use in the United States rose 10 percent during the second quarter of 2020. The rise in residential consumption means that households spent nearly $6 billion on extra electricity from April to July last year.

Winter poses a whole new set of challenges for those trying to keep their electricity consumption low, as heating is often the largest energy user in households. Energy efficiency is the best option to lower your monthly electricity consumption permanently. You may already be making a few simple changes at home (like turning down your thermostat when nobody's home), but investing in your home's long-term weatherization gives out the most impact.

Many households shy away from making energy efficiency upgrades because of the high initial cost, even if the long-term benefits are substantial. The Federal Weatherization Assistance Program can help low-income households cover the improvement costs to make these upgrades more affordable. Most homeowners can also qualify for and avail of the insulation tax credit (Sec. 25C tax credit) of up to $500 to purchase energy-efficient equipment, including windows, insulation, and heat pumps. Most local utility websites also offer incentives for energy efficiency (click here for Portland’s official local utility website).

Can new windows help you save money?

According to the US Department of Energy, energy loss attributed to windows accounts for nearly 25 percent of the annual heating and cooling costs of the average American home. If your home is less than 30 years old, chances are the contractor that built your home used substandard windows to cut costs. And if it is more than 30 and has not been renovated since, your windows probably do not have the energy-saving benefits from modern window technology.

The best way to know if your windows are energy inefficient is to check if your windows get hot in the summer and cold during winter. Are your windows hard to open and close? Have they become drafty or foggy and cloudy?

If your HVAC system runs most of the day just to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, you are most certainly losing money to inefficient windows.

Due to Federal law, no company can make specific claims on how much money you will save with particular products. However, a report released by Energy Star found that the average savings earned by switching from single-pane windows to Energy Star-rated double-pane windows save you about 20 percent (in the mid-Atlantic area), and 8% if switching from non-Energy Star rated double-pane windows.

How the right replacement windows can save you even more

Choosing suitable materials can help you save money on your replacement windows.

Aluminum conducts heat and has an 80% higher chance of rotting your window jam. While wood can be attractive, it needs almost constant maintenance and can be plagued with mildew, shrinkage, swelling, and bugs, among other problems.

The best material by far is vinyl. It does not have any issues inherent to wood and aluminum. If you get replacement windows close to 100% virgin vinyl, they will not get chalky, fade, or get brittle over time.

Here are some extra features to look for if you want to save money on electricity bills:

Look for windows with fusion welds and insulated framework.

Most windows have hollow frames that have only been screwed together or glued, letting in outside air and do very little to help maintain your home temperature. Look for window frames and sashes that are fusion welded and fully insulated with polyurethane. This insulation will not rot, absorb water, and attract molds. These are also ideal as they are almost as energy efficient as your walls.

Look for windows that use close to 100% virgin vinyl.

Most windows use reground plastic and only a small amount of actual vinyl. Per government standards, a window only needs to contain 15% vinyl to be called a vinyl window. These windows are poor insulators because reground plastic is much better at storing heat and cold than vinyl.

Look for windows with a long-term warranty

Most replacement windows have a short-term warranty of fewer than ten years. These warranties are often prorated over time, not to mention limited and filled with fine print designed to make it almost impossible for companies to honor.

Some brands are offering a lifetime warranty that is non-prorated and even transferrable.

Make sure to do some research on window specs before deciding on a model, as some window features such as efficient coatings can reduce heat losses even more. There are many things you can do to save money on utilities, and one of the most beneficial changes you can make is replacing your low-efficiency starter windows.

If you are from Portland and find that replacing all of your old windows seems too daunting a task or you are already thinking of moving, reach out and we may be able to save you the hassle by making you an all-cash offer.