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Environmental Benefits Of Home Improvement To Windows And Doors

February 8th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

What are the cost and environmental benefits of home improvement to windows and doors?

Replacing windows and doors and be a very expensive remodeling job. A home improvement window or door project can run into thousands of dollars, however the environmental and energy saving benefits can far outweigh the costs.

While energy cost savings may spring to mind when thinking of energy-efficient windows and doors, doing what’s right for the environment and increasing the overall appeal of your home should also be considerations. Also, commencing in 2006, Americans can get a tax credit if they include energy-efficient models in their home improvement window plan.

Save Energy … Save Money

Energy-efficient windows and doors can reduce heating and cooling costs by 25 percent or more. Less energy will be needed to maintain your home’s temperature, so smaller HVAC systems can be installed. So, installing energy-efficient models can be a great home improvement window idea if protecting the environment is important to you.

Get a Tax Credit

The Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 allows for a $2,000 tax credit for energy-efficient homes completed after December 31, 2005. To qualify, the home’s heating and cooling costs must be 50 percent less than the cost of a comparable home that met official 2003 and 2004 international energy standards. Not many other home improvement window projects are going to give you a break at tax time.

Improves Comfort

Your home improvement window plan will probably place comfort high on yourpriority list, and energy-efficient windows can help. In the winter, inefficient or poorly sealed windows will create a draft even if the window appears to be sealed properly. Energy-efficient models prevent this from happening.

In the summer, these windows will keep the home excessively heating up due to sunlight, making it less necessary to rely on air conditioning. Constant air conditioner use can aggravate arthritis and breathing problems and is environmentally unfriendly.

Increases Light and View

Normally, windows are great sources of natural light. However, with natural light comes solar heat that can make a house warm. To keep that from happening shades and tints are often used, which cut down on the amount of natural light. When your home improvement window project includes energy-efficient models though, shades and tints are not necessary. The technology used in new glazes cuts down on the solar heat transference while still allowing maximum visibility.

If you are planning home improvements or remodeling consider starting with your windows. Installing energy efficient windows provide enormous benefit to the homeowner, the value of the home and also to the environment.