Why Window Insulation Is so Important for Homeowners

Buying an old house? Chances are the home is poorly insulated. The lack of window insulation, in particular, can be a major problem for older homes. Unfortunately for homeowners who live in areas with extreme temperatures (think: New England or the Deep South), this means higher energy bills and uncomfortable temperatures inside the home. In fact, the Department of Energy states that “heat gain or heat loss through windows are responsible for 25 to 30 percent of residential heating and cooling energy use.” If you’re looking for ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency, here are tips for insulating your windows and lowering your energy bills today.

Why window insulation is so important

Making sure that windows are property insulated is absolutely crucial to a home’s (and a homeowner’s) well-being. Several important benefits of window insulation include:

Improving your HVAC system’s effectiveness – Keeping a home warm or cool is easier with insulated windows. That’s because by improving a window’s energy efficiency, you’re also improving your HVAC’s efficiency. Better windows mean less air leaks out of the home, which means your HVAC system won’t have to work as hard to keep the home warm or cool.
Lowering your energy bills –Given that the HVAC system won’t have to work as hard or as long to keep your home cool or warm, you can expect those monthly energy bills to drop dramatically when you insulate the windows.
Keeping every room a comfortable temperature –If your windows aren’t insulated, you can expect that rooms with more windows will likely be colder or hotter than other rooms. However, if the windows are insulated, then the temperature in your home will likely be more even throughout the home.

Tips for selecting energy efficient windows

Selecting new windows for your home? Perhaps you’re buying windows for a new build or maybe you’re replacing your old windows with new ones. Whatever the situation, make sure you do your homework before paying up for energy efficient windows. Here are several tips from the Department of Energy for selecting new windows.

Purchase windows with Energy Star or NFRC labels.
Select gas-filled windows with low-e coatings in colder climates and windows with coatings in hot climates.
Choose windows with a low U-factor in colder climates.
Take note of a window’s SHGC (or solar heat gain coefficient). A low SHGC means that less solar radiation and heat get through the window.
Purchase windows with whole-unit U-factors and SHGCs.

How to insulate your existing windows

Not ready to replace your windows? Fortunately, there are easy ways to improve the energy efficiency of your existing windows without replacing them altogether. The Department of Energy recommends these cost-effective methods (listed below) for reducing energy loss.

Check for air leaks – To check for air leaks, conduct a visual inspection around all of your windows and panes. Check for gaps and cracks. If it’s cold outside, you may be able to feel where cold air is entering the home.
Caulk and weatherstrip – If you do detect air leaks, then it’s imperative that you seal them as quickly as possible. Applying caulk to the window frames is one such way to stop air from leaking into the home. Applying weatherstripping around the windows is another way to stop air leaks.
Add window treatments to your windows – Adding window treatments, such as heavy curtains, blinds, shades or drapes, is one of the easiest ways to insulate your home. Window treatments will prevent direct sunlight from entering the home and will act as a buffer against the cold air outside.
Add storm windows or panels – Adding exterior storm windows is an effective way to prevent air from entering or exiting your home. Storm windows cost much less than a full window replacement and are a good economical way to insulate your existing windows.
Add solar control film – Another inexpensive way to improve the insulation in your home is by adding window films to your windows. A solar control film helps block heat and ultraviolet light and can be used in both hot and cold climates.
Add exterior shading – Exterior shading, such as awnings and overhangs, block heat from the sun and can provide shade to your windows, which in turn prevents unnecessary heat from entering the home.

More easy tips for increasing your home’s energy efficiency

There are other ways to increase the energy efficiency of your home than by just insulating the windows. Here are 10 easy ways to create a more energy efficient home.