Energy-efficient is the name of the game today...not only is it needed to keep our fuel costs down but also to help prevent 'global warming'. Dual pane windows is one way to help. On the whole newer homes are built with dual pane windows but if you have an 'older' home without them you might want to consider having them replaced. When it comes time to sell, buyers are more apt to purchase a home with this valuable upgrade.
Windows, one of the most attractive elements of your home, can also be one of the biggest energy wasters. Nearly 50% of homes have inefficient single pane windows. The energy loss from single pane glass can account 25% of a heating bill.
There are two types of double pane windows: gas filled with low-emissivity coating, which reduces heat loss by reflecting heat into the room rather than out of the house (recommended for colder climates); and spectrally selective coated glass, which holds in cool air, reducing the amount of heat let in from the outside...perfect for the warmer climates like Las Vegas. These windows can reduce heating bills by 34% and decrease cooling costs by 38% or more. With the average cooling cost of $300 per month, during the summer months, for an 1800 square foot home this is a sizable savings!
Prices for dual-pane windows start at about $1,000. Popular brands include Sears, Andersen and Milguard, whose websites include interactive design tools for selecting different window shapes, sizes and styles. Installation costs vary according to the age of the building; the type of exterior cladding, siding and/or brick; and the window product selected.
Las Vegas REALTOR® specializing in representing clients with homes for sale, single-family residences, income property. I work all of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Green Valley, Henderson, & Summerlin
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Hi Mary: Many of the more "green" builders offer E-rated windows. Some of them are decent, but some of them are double-pane triple-thermal-insulated windows, and can really save on energy costs. Replacing windows can be expensive, but the better the window, the more quickly the savings gained will pay for their costs. After that, the savings are all "gravy." Thanks for a timely post.
It is also very important from the sound insulation point of view. I use to demonstrate it to the buyers of condos. I open the sliding door and tell them to listen to pounding surf of the ocean and all street noises. Then I slide it close, and it is so wonderfully quiet.
Hi Jon: Question. If I moved all the way from Fort Worth, Texas... where I have great difficulty hearing the pounding oean surf... to Daytona Beach... I would think that would be a sound I would want to hear... LOL.
I see a lot of older properties with single pane windows that do not have storms. I tell my clients that they may want to consider upgrading to dual pane windows or at a minimum, installing storms. Single pane windows have an insulating value of R1. Might as well put wax paper in the window.
Installing dual pane windows would help in reducing energy costs. Plus they are very easy to handle when cleaning.
Mary, I honestly have not looked into this but can someone even buy, single-pane Windows for a new home? (I am sure you can get replacements)....
Great, now I have to go shopping at Lowes and see! lol
Hi Charles: I don't know if you can, but I do not know of a builder who would install them... even if the home was sold up-front... because if the sale falls apart, no other buyer would take the home unless the single pane windows were taken out and replaced by double pane windows. So... no builder would take the chance... in my opinion.
Mary: This is a great post. We were thinking about replacing our windows and were toying with this idea.
Mary, when we moved to Houston 11 years ago we were amazed that double paned windows weren't used. The new home sales person said "you are in Houston now". Yes, 95 degrees in the summer day after day. In 2001 all new homes went to the double paned windows thank goodness. We added a magna tite window a few years ago. It has helped incredibly with sound and the house is tighter but if we had it to do over again we would spend the extra and replace all the windows with double paned windows.
This is a great post Mary. What an incredible incentive it is for a write off for taxes as well. You have given me an idea of posting that here in Utah to encourage people before the tax year is over. Do you mind if I do a spin off of your post?
Absolutely go for it Julie...it's all yours!
Great topic Mary. Replacement of windows can be used as a tax deduction for this year if purchased before December 31st. There are so many benefits to the installation of the windows.