Go Green Save Green with New Windows in Your Baton Rouge Home

Beautiful windows and door enhance the appearance of your Baton Rouge home, but poorly insulated ones add to your energy bills too. Even windows installed 10-15 years ago are often lose energy around the frame and through the panes themselves. Upgrading will reduce greenhouse emissions from power plants, make you more comfortable in your home as you reduce drafts and overheated spaces, reduce condensation, and reduce the sun rays that can damage and fade fabrics in your home by acting as a sun screen. Go green and you'll save green!

As an incentive to homeowners to upgrade inefficient windows and doors, stop energy loss, and create a more energy efficient home, the Federal Stimulus Bill offers homeowners a tax credit of 30% (up to total of $1,500) to install energy efficient upgrades in their homes. This credit, good through 2010, improves on a popular credit in effect in 2006-2007 by expanding the amount. Besides windows and doors, the credit also covers insulation, water heaters, roofs, air conditioning, and biomass stoves. For homeowners willing to convert to alternative energy sources such as geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, fuel cells, and small wind energy systems, there is no cap on the 30% contribution and they have until 2016 to fully install these systems.

Over the past decade, window technology has improved so that through new glazing techniques and better sealing, less air escapes from around the frames. Air loss leads to substantial heat loss, heat gain, and moisture migration in a building. Proper sealing around all doors, windows and other open through the walls, ceiling and foundation is as important to energy code compliance as are proper insulation R-Values and component U-factors. Click here for a handy sheet to help you select energy efficient windows in Baton Rouge from the Efficient Window Collaborative.

Windows and doors that have a combination of a less than .30 U-Value and a .30 SHGC qualify for the credit. Prior to June 1, 2009, it was enough to have an Energy Star label on the product. Now window ratings must be certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), the only federally recognized organization for determining the energy performance of windows, doors and skylights. Windows must have an NFRC label. To get the credit, homeowners must obtain a manufacturer certification statement to document window, door, or skylight eligibility for the tax credit. This certification may be available on the manufacturer's Web site if the retailer or installer cannot provide this document. More information about product performance is available at the NFRC website.

Even with the credit, replacing windows or undertaking any other project to improve energy efficiency can be costly for homeowners, who have to spend the money upfront in order to claim the credit. Homeowners with good credit can often take advantage of financing plans and promotions like buy one, get one free offered by some window companies. Low income families can attain a more comfortable home at minimal cost through weatherization programs offered through community agencies.

In addition to the new energy credits, Louisiana residents can also benefit from some state programs which we will consider next time.

Interested in buying a new home that is energy efficient? Sandy's Team can help you find new construction or an existing home in East Baton Rouge Parish that meets these standards or can be easily upgraded.